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Kim Jong Un has told Russia’s top diplomat that North Korea is ready to “unconditionally support” all of Moscow’s actions to resolve the conflict in Ukraine.
The promise came during a high-level meeting between Kim and Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov on Saturday, after Russia launched a fresh barrage of drones and missiles on Ukraine, which killed at least six people.
Vladimir Putin’s forces launched 597 drones and 26 missiles targeting the west of the country on Saturday, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said.
The death toll from the barrage rose to six later in the day, while more than 20 other people were injured in the strikes, which hit cities including Lviv, Chernivtsi and Kharkiv.
The attack comes as Donald Trump is expected to send weapons to Kyiv, after promising to make a “major statement” on Russia on Monday as he grows frustrated with Putin amid intensified attacks on Ukraine.
The US president has also issued an ominous warning to the Russian president after a maternity ward in Kharkiv was damaged in a drone strike. “You'll be seeing things happen,” he said.
In pictures: Kim Jong Un holds high-level talks with Russia
North Korea’s leader met with Russian foreign minister Segei Lavrov on Saturday in the coastal city of Wonsan, with the pair pledging further cooperation between the two countries.
Rachel Clun13 July 2025 09:54
Kim Jong Un ready to 'unconditionally support' Russia
Kim Jong Un has told Russia’s top diplomat that North Korea is ready to “unconditionally support” all of Moscow’s actions to resolve the conflict in Ukraine.
Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov is on a three-day visit to North Korea, and held high-level talks with the country’s leader on Saturday.
North Korea has provided troops and arms for Russia’s war with Ukraine, and pledged more military support as Moscow tries to make advances in the conflict.
Kim met Lavrov in the eastern coastal city of Wonsan where the two countries' foreign ministers held their second strategic dialogue, pledging further cooperation under a partnership treaty signed last year that includes a mutual defense pact.
Kim told Lavrov the steps taken by the allies in response to radically evolving global geopolitics will contribute greatly to securing peace and security around the world, North Korea's state news agency KCNA reported.
"Kim Jong Un reaffirmed the DPRK (Democratic People's Republic of Korea) is ready to unconditionally support and encourage all the measures taken by the Russian leadership as regards the tackling of the root cause of the Ukrainian crisis," KCNA said.
Rachel Clun13 July 2025 09:32
Watch: Applause as Macron says Europe won't abandon Ukraine
Tara Cobham13 July 2025 09:00
Full story: Ukrainian intelligence officer gunned down in Kyiv
A senior Ukrainian intelligence officer was gunned down in broad daylight in Kyiv, officials said on Friday as a maternity hospital was hit by a Russian drone barrage on the city of Kharkiv.
Surveillance footage published on social media showed the agent was executed in a car park by a gunman clad in dark clothing who fled the scene. Police said they were trying to identify the shooter and that “measures are being taken to detain him”.
The victim’s name has not been publicly disclosed and the identity of the suspect remains unclear. A Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) official said that the intelligence officer had been a colonel, according to Reuters.
My colleague Bryony Gooch has the full story:
Tara Cobham13 July 2025 08:32
Watch: Trump ‘flat-footed’ by Pentagon's weapons halt to Kyiv and pledges more arms
Tara Cobham13 July 2025 08:00
Senate seeks to hit Russia with sanctions over Ukraine – but Trump wants to control the Putin smackdown
Legislation in the Senate rarely earns more than 80 sponsors. But Ukraine’s defense against Russia’s two-year-long invasion seems to be the spark drawing that support to a bill drafted by Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham and Democratic Sen. Richard Blumenthal.
Senators from both parties say that the legislation would pass smoothly. House Speaker Mike Johnson has said that he is open to a sanctions bill, which would open the door widespread bipartisan support.
Majority Leader John Thune said in a Senate speech earlier this week, “I fully expect that that could be ready for floor consideration as early as this work period. Senate Republicans are committed to working with the House and the White House to get this legislation through Congress and onto the president’s desk.”
My colleague Eric Garcia reports:
Tara Cobham13 July 2025 07:30
Watch: Trump's warning to Putin after Russia drones hit maternity ward
Rachel Clun13 July 2025 07:00
One killed in strike on Russian home, officials say
A man was killed in Russia's Belgorod region after a shell struck a private house on Saturday, regional governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said in a post on Telegram on Saturday.
Belgorod region, a border province which adjoins Ukraine's Sumy, Kharkiv and Luhansk regions, has come under regular attack from Kyiv's forces since Russia ordered tens of thousands of troops into Ukraine in February 2022.
Strikes on the region have diminished in recent months, as Russia has intensified its attacks on neighbouring Ukrainian regions.
Reuters13 July 2025 05:00
Ukrainian intelligence officer gunned down in Kyiv
Rachel Clun13 July 2025 04:00
As Trump pledges more weapons for Ukraine - how reliant is Kyiv on US military assistance?
Below The Independent looks at how much support the US has provided to Ukraine’s war effort, why the Pentagon decided to pause shipments and what could happen from here.
Rachel Clun13 July 2025 03:00
