Vietnam 'torn' between U.S. and Russia as embattled Putin visits

HO CHI MINH CITY -- Vladimir Putin has arrived in Vietnam after North Korea for a state visit that analysts are watching for a potential sanctions-defying arms deal and which the U.S. has slammed for allowing the Russian president to "promote" his war in Ukraine. With the visit, Vietnam became the only country to host state visits for the leaders of China, the U.S. and Russia -- the top three military powers -- in the past year.

In a meeting at the Presidential Palace in Hanoi on Thursday afternoon, Putin and his Vietnamese counterpart, To Lam, emphasized the need for peace and called their relations a priority, state-controlled media reported. "Strengthening the comprehensive strategic partnership with Vietnam is one of our priorities," the Tuoi Tre newspaper quoted Putin as saying. According to Reuters, Putin said, "Russia respects talks with ASEAN."