Key facts
- President Vladimir Putin is hosting ASEAN leaders in Kazan for a summit.
- This is the first Russia-ASEAN summit since Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
- Energy security is expected to be a primary topic of discussion.
- Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and President Putin discussed using local currencies in bilateral trade.
- The summit aims to bolster business and other ties between Russia and ASEAN.
President Vladimir Putin is hosting leaders from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in Kazan for a summit aimed at strengthening bilateral ties and discussing key global issues. This marks the first such high-level meeting between Russia and ASEAN since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Energy security is anticipated to be a central theme, reflecting the global impact of the ongoing conflict on energy markets. Putin expressed optimism that the summit would foster expanded trade, investment, and industrial cooperation, emphasizing direct dialogue between business communities. The agenda also includes discussions on global and regional matters and reinforcing a multipolar world order based on international law. Bilateral meetings between Putin and individual ASEAN leaders are also planned. Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and President Putin held discussions on utilizing local currencies for bilateral trade as part of efforts to strengthen economic cooperation between the two nations. Several ASEAN nations have previously imported or expressed interest in purchasing Russian crude oil, particularly following surges in global fuel prices.