Russian president Vladimir Putin held a phone call with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to reaffirm their “friendship” ahead of his summit with Donald Trump in Alaska on Friday.
Mr Putin and Mr Kim spoke on Tuesday, pledging “closer contact in the future” and discussing issues of mutual concern, according to North Korea’s state media, the Korean Central News Agency reported.
Their call comes as the Kremlin leader is set to meet Mr Trump on Friday in Alaska for the first time since the US president’s return to the White House to negotiate a ceasefire in Ukraine, a meeting that would be closely watched by world leaders.