Russian President Vladimir Putin made it clear that his country does not feel threatened by NATO's efforts to increase military strength. Speaking at a round-table discussion in St Petersburg, he said Russia has the ability to secure itself without outside help.

“We do not consider any Nato rearmament to be a threat to the Russian Federation, because we are self-sufficient in terms of ensuring our security,” Putin stated.

He also pointed out that Russia continues to modernise its military forces. According to him, the country is always working on upgrading its defence systems. He then criticised NATO's spending plans, saying it “makes no sense” to invest more in weapons.

NATO to Hold Crucial Summit in The Hague

Meanwhile, NATO is preparing for an important summit in The Hague next week. The focus of the meeting will be on increasing defence spending. The alliance is considering raising the target to 5% of each member’s GDP. This idea comes under pressure from US President Donald Trump, who has long urged NATO members to contribute more.

Zelenskyy Likely to Attend NATO Meeting

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is expected to attend the NATO summit on June 24. According to a report by AFP, the final decision will be made just before the summit. A source told the agency, “The decision will be made on the eve of the summit. This is just the schedule,” and described the event as “an opportunity to maintain support and promote a ceasefire.”

Earlier, during the G7 summit in Canada, senior Ukrainian officials met with their US counterparts. They discussed ways to strengthen Ukraine’s defence sector. First Deputy Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko said the talks focused on a joint investment fund set up in May to support Ukraine's military. She also confirmed that US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent took part in the discussions.

North Korea to Send Workers and Troops to Russia

In a separate development, North Korea has agreed to send workers and military personnel to help Russia rebuild the city of Kursk, which has been damaged by the ongoing war. This move comes even as Pyongyang faces global criticism for its growing support to Russia in the conflict.

According to Russian state media, Russia’s Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu visited Pyongyang on Tuesday. There, he held talks with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. Both sides agreed on sending help, which they described as “fraternal assistance.”

The next day, Shoigu confirmed that North Korea would send a “division of builders” and two military brigades, totaling 5,000 people. Additionally, 1,000 deminers will travel to Russia to help with the restoration efforts in Kursk.

“This is a kind of fraternal assistance from the Korean people and leader Kim Jong Un to our country,” Shoigu said, as quoted by TASS.