Myanmar's leader and military chief Min Aung Hlaing was greeted in Moscow on Tuesday by one of President Vladimir Putin's top security officials. Sergei Shoigu, the secretary of Russia's Security Council,

Isolated and sanctioned by the West, the two nations continue to move into closer diplomatic and strategic alignment.

The two sides reached deals to cooperate on nuclear and space technology, among many others, and the junta boss backed Russia’s war in Ukraine.

Russia's President Vladimir Putin hailed expanding ties with ally Myanmar at talks with its military junta chief on Tuesday and thanked him for gifting Moscow six elephants.

Myanmar's military leader Min Aung Hlaing is in Russia, where he's expected to meet President Vladimir Putin and sign several agreements. The Myanmar army is struggling to quell violent opposition to military rule.

Russian President Vladimir Putin held talks on Tuesday with the head of Myanmar’s military government Min Aung Hlaing, who is seeking to cement cooperation with Moscow as he faces isolation and sanctions from the West.

Gen Min Aung Hlaing will meet Russian leader Vladimir Putin and the officals from the Defence Ministry. Read more at straitstimes.com.

Russia is a crucial arms supplier to the isolated state, which is struggling to quell violent opposition to the junta's military rule