Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in North Korea today. In these hours the Italian president, Sergio Mattarella, is on an official visit to Moldova, a country that is trying to join the European Union and which has been grappling with pressure from Moscow for decades. The head of the Kremlin returns to Pyongyang 24 years after his first trip to the Asian country. 

"Relations between Moldova and Italy are intense and excellent, demonstrating the solid ties that unite the countries. Our trade has exceeded 660 million Euros and the presence of Italian companies in various sectors of the Moldovan economy is a reason for us to satisfaction, as it offers a contribution to the development of the country", declared the President of the Italian Republic, Mattarella, who met the Moldovan President, Maia Sandu.

It is the first visit of an Italian head of state to Moldova. Meanwhile, Sandu denounced: "The Kremlin wants our country to remain in a gray area, Moldovan citizens want to be part of the free world within the large EU family, Moldovan citizens have the right to build their present and future. The Kremlin seeks to undermine our efforts" through money laundering and election control.

For his part, Putin from North Korea made it known that Russia is firmly convinced that "with our joint efforts we will bring bilateral cooperation to a higher level". Moscow promised to build "an alternative settlement system" on "trade and mutual agreements" to "oppose illegitimate restrictive measures" from the West, the Russian president said, North Korean media "Rodong Sinmun" reported.

On the subject, see also the article published by AVIONEWS.