Vladimir Putin threatens to arm Russia's allies with deadly weapons

Vladimir Putin earlier told North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un that the two countries would "expand comprehensive and constructive bilateral relations through joint efforts", according to official Pyongyang media

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu at the army ceremony today (

Image: Reuters)

Russian President Vladimir Putin has said the Kremlin is ready to distribute modern weapons to its allies, including rogue states led by unpredictable dictators like North Korea and Iran.

Moscow values ​​its ties with countries in Latin America, Asia and Africa and is ready to offer modern weapons to its allies.

“(We) stand ready to offer our allies the most modern types of weapons, from small arms to armored vehicles and artillery to combat aviation and unmanned aerial vehicles,” said Putin at the opening ceremony of the Army-2022 forum near Moscow.

"Nearly all of them have been used more than once in actual combat operations."

Leaving Europe and America absent from the list, he added that Moscow valued its ties with countries in Latin America, Asia and Africa without specifying its closest allies by name.

He was speaking nearly six months into Russia's war in Ukraine, where Moscow has suffered repeated setbacks and heavy casualties.

Western military analysts say the poor performance of Russian troops and weaponry could make its arms exports less attractive to potential buyers, such as India, which has relied heavily on its technology in the past.