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Leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) volition clasp a commemorative acme with Russian President Vladimir Putin successful Russia successful June, the Philippines' apical diplomat said connected Friday (May 29, 2026).
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Philippine Foreign Secretary Theresa Lazaro said successful a station connected X that she and her Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov, spoke connected the telephone astir ASEAN's to beryllium held successful the Russian metropolis of Kazan.
The Russian Embassy successful Manila said that up of the June 17-18 summit, Mr. Lavrov and Ms. Lazaro discussed “the prospects of expanding Russia's strategical partnership” with ASEAN.
Aside from the Philippines, ASEAN members see Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, East Timor, and Vietnam.
Most ASEAN authorities members voted to enactment a United Nations General Assembly solution condemning Russia for its Feb. 24, 2022, penetration of Ukraine, but the determination bloc has maintained relations with Moscow arsenic a “dialogue partner” and engaged Russian officials successful yearly top-level meetings.
Some of ASEAN's divers states person been perceived to beryllium aligned with the United States, similar Washington's pact ally, the Philippines, which presently holds the association's yearly rotating presidency. Other members person dense commercialized and information engagements with China and Russia. Vietnam and Laos abstained from the UN General Assembly solution concerning the onslaught connected Ukraine.
Several ASEAN members, including the Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam, person either imported oregon expressed involvement successful purchasing Russian crude lipid aft planetary substance prices soared aft the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran successful February.
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. volition be the acme with Mr. Putin, a Philippine authorities authoritative told The Associated Press connected information of anonymity for deficiency of authorization to sermon the substance publicly.
It remains to beryllium seen whether Singapore's person would attend. The affluent land federation condemned Russia's penetration of Ukraine and imposed sanctions.
The person of Myanmar, which presently coordinates ASEAN's relations with Russia, volition apt not beryllium allowed to attend. ASEAN has prohibited Myanmar's leaders from attending top-level meetings, including yearly summits with Asian and Western countries, aft Myanmar's service forcibly ousted Aung San Suu Kyi's democratically elected authorities successful 2021, sparking a civilian war. Lower-level vocation diplomats person been allowed to attend.
ASEAN leaders projected a five-point bid program successful 2021, demanding an contiguous extremity to warring and hostilities, but Myanmar's authorities has failed to extremity the unit oregon foster dialogue.
