War in Ukraine: agreements signed with Thales, Vladimir Putin in Pyongyang… update on the situation

Kim Jong Un et Vladimir Poutine à Pyongyang ce 19 juin 2024. MAXPPP – KRISTINA KORMILITSYNA/SPUTNIK/KREMLIN POOL

Tous les jours, Midi Libre fait le point sur la situation en Ukraine. Ce mercredi 19 juin 2024, découvrez les dernières actualités autour de ce conflit.

Thales signs three agreements with the Ukrainian defense industry

Thales announced on Wednesday the signing of three agreements with Ukrainian industry in the fields of electronic warfare, tactical communications, air defense systems, radars and drones, in the part of the Eurosatory exhibition.

The group specified in a press release that the objective of these agreements, concluded under the aegis of the French Ministry of the Armed Forces and the Ukrainian Ministry of Strategic Industries, is "strengthen operational support of the Ukrainian armed forces on the front line and consolidate local defense capabilities".

According to the Thales press release, the first agreement concerns the creation of a Franco-Ukrainian joint venture dedicated to the delivery and operation of equipment. The second agreement concerns training, testing and maintenance requirements for electronic warfare.

The third agreement, signed with the Ukrainian group etrobots FRDM, aims to develop and manufacture a drone system for transporting and dropping munitions. Eurosatory, the global defense and security exhibition, is currently being held, and until Friday, in Villepinte (Seine-Saint-Denis), near Paris.

In North Korea, Putin signs a strategic partnership with Kim Jong-un

On an official visit to North Korea, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed on Wednesday with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un a "comprehensive strategic partnership" strengthening relations between their two countries. This partnership notably includes a mutual defense clause under which each country agrees to help the other repel external aggression.

"The comprehensive partnership agreement signed today provides, among other things, for mutual assistance in the event of aggression against one of the parties to this agreement", declared Vladimir Putin. The agreement will also expand cooperation between the two countries in the political, economic and military fields, Kim Jong-un said, calling it &quot ;strictly peaceful and defensive" by nature. "Relations between our two countries have been elevated to the next level of an alliance", said the North Korean leader, speaking on the occasion of a rare press conference following his meeting with Vladimir Putin in Pyongyang.

Earlier, at the start of his meeting with the Russian leader, Kim Jong-un expressed his "unconditional support" to "all policies of Russia", including "full support and firm alliance" to the war led by Moscow against Ukraine. Vladimir Putin's two-day visit, the Russian leader's first to Pyongyang in 24 years, is expected to reshape relations between Russia and North Korea, in a context of increased isolation of the two countries on the scene. international.

Moscow is pleased to see its rapprochement with Pyongyang constitute a thorn in the side of the United States, while North Korea has found political support and promises of economic support and commercial relations in Russia. Washington says it fears that Moscow is providing Pyongyang with aid for its ballistic and nuclear programs, in violation of sanctions imposed on North Korea by the UN, and accuses Pyongyang of having supplied Moscow with munitions, including ballistic missiles, for its offensive in Ukraine.

Russia and North Korea have denied any arms deliveries, while having expressed their desire to strengthen their military ties and mentioned possible joint exercises. Kim Jong-un welcomed Vladimir Putin at Pyongyang airport on Wednesday where the two leaders shook hands, hugged and chatted near the Russian president's plane.

A limousine then transported the two leaders, together, to Vladimir Putin's hotel, arriving in the early hours of the night. "Crossing from night on the charmingly lit streets of Pyongyang, the two leaders exchanged their deepest thoughts to better develop relations" between the two countries, the KCNA said.< /p>