ASEAN leaders plan June summit with Putinsummit with Putin in Russia
Leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations plan to hold a commemorative summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Russia in June, the Philippines’ top diplomat said on Friday.
The meeting would bring Southeast Asian leaders together with Moscow at a time when Russia remains under heavy international pressure over its war in Ukraine.
It matters because the summit signals continued regional engagement with Russia despite Western efforts to isolate it.
ASEAN officials
ASEAN is presenting the summit as a commemorative meeting that keeps its dialogue channels open with major powers. The bloc often tries to balance relations among competing states while avoiding alignment with one side.
Russian perspective
For Moscow, the summit offers a chance to show that it still has diplomatic partners beyond its closest allies. It also supports Russia’s message that it remains engaged in broader Asian diplomacy despite sanctions and war.
Western perspective
Western governments are likely to view the meeting through the lens of Russia’s war in Ukraine and its efforts to resist isolation. They may see the summit as a sign that Moscow still has room to maneuver diplomatically in Asia.
- ASEAN was founded in 1967 to reduce regional tensions and boost economic cooperation.
- The bloc includes countries with very different political systems and foreign policy priorities.
- Russia has long sought to strengthen ties with Asian partners as Western pressure increased.
Russia-Ukraine War
Russia and Ukraine are locked in an retaliatory long-range drone and missile war that now strikes deep into both countries, including Moscow, St. Petersburg, Crimea, and major Ukrainian cities like Kyiv and Dnipro. Ukrainian forces launched one of their largest drone attacks on June 26, striking 12 Russian regions and hitting key energy targets, while Russia continues massive retaliatory bombardments that kill civilians and destroy infrastructure.
26 June, 09:41 AM
Ukraine unleashes massive drone bombardment on 12 Russian regions24 June, 10:31 AM
Ukrainian drones knock out power in Russian-held Sevastopol22 June, 03:20 PM
Ukraine strikes Russian missile electronics plant in Voronezh
