MANILA, Philippines (AP) — Leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) are set to hold a commemorative summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Russia this June, the Philippine foreign minister said Friday, marking a significant diplomatic engagement between the regional bloc and Moscow.
Foreign Secretary Theresa Lazaro said in a post on X that she held a phone conversation with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov regarding preparations for the summit scheduled in Kazan on June 17 to 18.
The Russian Embassy in Manila said the two officials discussed the prospects of expanding Russia’s strategic partnership with ASEAN ahead of the meeting.
ASEAN is composed of Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, the Philippines, Vietnam, and Timor-Leste.
While most ASEAN member states supported a United Nations General Assembly resolution condemning Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, the bloc has maintained its designation of Russia as a “dialogue partner” and continues to engage Moscow in regular high-level meetings.
The region remains diplomatically diverse, with some member states perceived as closer to the United States, including treaty ally the Philippines, which currently holds ASEAN’s rotating chairmanship. Others maintain extensive economic and security ties with China and Russia.
Vietnam and Laos abstained from the UN resolution condemning the invasion, reflecting differing foreign policy positions within the bloc.
Several ASEAN members, including the Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam, have also explored or increased interest in Russian crude oil imports following volatility in global energy markets.
A Philippine government official said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is expected to attend the summit with Putin, although there has been no formal public confirmation.
Singapore’s participation remains uncertain, as the city-state has strongly condemned Russia’s invasion and imposed sanctions.
Myanmar is also expected to be absent at the leadership level. ASEAN has barred its top officials from attending major summits following the 2021 military takeover, which triggered ongoing internal conflict. Lower-level representatives continue to participate in ASEAN-related engagements.
ASEAN had earlier proposed a five-point peace plan calling for an immediate cessation of violence in Myanmar, but implementation has stalled amid continuing conflict and lack of sustained dialogue between opposing sides.
Paraluman P. Funtanilla
Paraluman P. Funtanilla is Tutubi News Magazine's Marketing Specialist and is a Contributing Editor. She finished her degree in Communication Arts in De La Salle Lipa. She has worked as a Digital Marketer for start-up businesses and small business spaces for the past two years. She has earned certificates from Coursera on Brand Management: Aligning Business Brand and Behavior and Viral Marketing and How to Craft Contagious Content. She also worked with Asia Express Romania TV Show.
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