‘Nothing left to lose’: Putin embraces role of spoiler with Kim Jong-un summit

News Snapshot:

The situation is dire when you’re boasting of closer ties with North Korea, but Vladimir Putin in 2023 finds himself in just that situation with nothing left to lose. The Russian fanfare before the summit with North Korea’s Kim Jong-un has rivalled the anticipation for his meetings with western leaders, where he would attempt to woo or spar with opponents such as Barack Obama or Angela Merkel. Now, with Russia isolated internationally after its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Putin has embraced his role as the spoiler, courting a number of anti-western African leaders at a recent summit and threatening to...