Vladimir Putin meets Kim Jong-un in 2019 in Vladivostok. Photo: Alexy Nikolsky/Sputnik via Getty Images
As much of the world backs away from Russia over its invasion of Ukraine, Moscow is providing cheap oil, a friend on the UN Security Council and sensitive military technology to those partners still standing by it.
Why it matters: According to the White House, Russia is swiftly moving toward a “full-fledged defense partnership” with Iran, and now plans to dispatch a delegation to negotiate with North Korea. Meanwhile, the U.S. continues to fear that China will abandon its supposed "neutrality" and back Russia more directly.
Driving the news: The U.S. Treasury sanctioned a Slovak arms dealer last Thursday for allegedly attempting to broker a deal whereby North Korea would send “over two dozen kinds of weapons and munitions” to Russia in exchange for “commercial aircraft, raw materials… commodities” and potentially cash.
Between the lines: Both Russia and Ukraine are facing shortages of equipment and ammunition, artillery shells in particular.
Russia has been using Iranian attack drones in Ukraine for months, and in exchange is offering Tehran "an unprecedented level of military and technical support,” Kirby warned in December.
Several other countries are backing Russia’s invasion at the UN, underscoring that a pariah to the West tends to be a friend to Putin.
Many more countries aren’t providing their arms or even their votes, but refuse to condemn Russia or suspend trade. Those include more than a dozen countries in Africa, India and, crucially, China.
Go deeper: Listen to the Axios Today podcast, where host Niala Boodhoo and Dave Lawler discuss the crucial Spring counteroffensive by Ukraine.