"Regarding the meeting between Putin and Kim Jong-un in Pyongyang and all the pomp and pageantry that reflects the totalitarian nature of the regime in the DPRK, it's clear that this is about expanding the partnership", Carpenter said.

In his view, this is indicative of where Russia finds itself on the world stage. Russia's closest partners in the world, the senior director said, are North Korea, Iran, Syria, and then to some extent China, "which, although it doesn't provide Russia with weapons, sends a lot of dual-use products for the production of advanced weapons systems".

He specified that this includes nitrocellulose for gunpowder, optics, and machine tools for the Russian military-industrial complex. And this, he said, increases the threat to Ukraine, as well as to European security.

"This is, broadly speaking, the coalition that Russia is putting together. But compare it to the coalition of 50 countries in the Ukraine Defense Contact Group and then to the roughly 100 countries that supported the principles of the UN Charter in Switzerland, and you will see a clear contrast", the official added.

• The day before, Vladimir Putin arrived in North Korea at the invitation of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. The countries signed a comprehensive strategic partnership treaty, which provides for mutual assistance in the event of an attack on one of the signatories. At the same time, the DPRK leader expressed Russia's "unconditional support" in the war with Ukraine.