Putin signs deals with Vietnam in bid to shore up ties in Asia to offset Moscow’s growing isolation WPXI [Video]

HANOI, Vietnam — (AP) — Russian President Vladimir Putin signed at least a dozen deals with his Vietnamese counterpart on Thursday and offered to supply fossil fuels including natural gas to Vietnam for the long term during a state visit that comes as Moscow is seeking to bolster ties in Asia to offset its growing international isolation over its military actions in Ukraine.

Putin and President To Lam agreed to further cooperate in education, science and technology, oil and gas exploration, clean energy and health. The two countries also agreed to work on a roadmap for a nuclear science and technology center in Vietnam.

Of the 12 publicly announced agreements, none overtly pertained to defense. But Lam said there were other deals that were not made public.

Following their talks, Putin said the two countries share an interest in “developing a reliable security architecture” in the Asia-Pacific region with no room for “closed military-political …