Grave concerns over Putin and Kim’s ‘armed aggression’ pact as Russian president’s Asian charm offensive arrives in Vietnam

Vladimir Putin hit out at what he called “Western isolation” and heaped praise on Vietnam, as Russia’s president continues his tour of Asia. In an opinion piece, published to coincide with his arrival in Hanoi, Putin praised Vietnam for its “balanced” stance on the war in Ukraine. Ukraine war latest: UK says ‘bizarre’ deal should be warning Writing in Vietnam’s Communist Party newspaper Nhan Dan, he said the country’s neutral foreign policy shows “a pragmatic way to solve the crisis”. He will hold talks with Communist Party general secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and new president To Lam on Thursday. The…