President Donald Trump cited recent efforts by China to restrict oil and coal supplies to North Korea. | Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images Trump: 'Russia is not helping us at all with North Korea'

President Donald Trump said Russia "is not helping" the U.S. deal with North Korea and is helping it get supplies despite sanctions meant to curb Pyongyang's nuclear ambitions, Reuters reported on Wednesday.

“Russia is not helping us at all with North Korea,” Trump told Reuters in an interview. “What China is helping us with, Russia is denting. In other words, Russia is making up for some of what China is doing.”


Trump cited recent efforts by China to restrict oil and coal supplies to North Korea. North Korea needs imported supplies not only for its economy, but also to support its intercontinental ballistic missile and nuclear program. Reuters had previously reported that Russian tankers recently supplied fuel to North Korea.

"In some cases it’s probable that what China takes back, Russia gives," Trump said, according to the wire service.



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