Marcos Arrives In Russia, Meets With Putin

President Marcos arrived in Kazan on Wednesday, June 17, for a two-day working visit that seeks to affirm the ties between Russia and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and to promote cooperation in key areas such as energy, peace and security and trade.

Marking 50 years of diplomatic relations between the Philippines and the Russian Federation, Marcos met with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the ASEAN-Russia Commemorative Summit in Kazan. The bilateral relations between Manila and Moscow were formally established on June 2, 1976.

In his opening statement, Putin underscored the long-standing friendship and mutual respect that have defined Philippines-Russia relations and highlighted opportunities to further expand cooperation in trade, agriculture and energy. 

He emphasized the need to strengthen existing mechanisms, including the Joint Russia-Philippine Commission on Trade and Economic Cooperation, to advance shared economic interests.

For his part, Marcos reaffirmed the value of sustained political dialogue and expressed optimism about expanding bilateral cooperation, particularly in energy and food security. 

As chair of ASEAN in 2026, he invited Putin to attend the 21st East Asia Summit in Manila, emphasizing the forum’s role in fostering a stable, secure and prosperous region.

In his recorded departure statement, Marcos said “we travel to Kazan with purpose, and we return with renewed commitment to our partnership.”

First Lady Liza Marcos did not join the President’s working visit to Kazan, which she described as “a long journey for such a short visit.”

“Thirteen hours to get there, another 13 hours flying home and only about 38 hours on the ground. But every hour matters when the conversations revolve around issues that affect everyday life for Filipino families – from food and energy security to fuel prices,” she said in a Facebook post that also contained photos of her sending off the President at Villamor Air Base.

Executive Secretary Ralph Recto, Agrarian Reform Secretary Conrado Estrella III and Labor Secretary Francis Tolentino will serve as caretakers of the government while Marcos is in Russia.

According to Marcos, his visit to Russia “carries both regional and personal significance,” noting that it would be his first time on Russian soil in nearly 50 years.

His last visit to the transcontinental country was when his father and namesake, the late president Ferdinand Marcos Sr., embarked on a historic visit to the then Soviet Union in 1976. The younger Marcos said the visit had culminated in the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Philippines and Russia.

“That milestone opened an enduring chapter in Philippines-Russia relations grounded in mutual respect, dialogue and cooperation, and one that we continue to build upon today,” the President said, noting that the two countries are commemorating 50 years of diplomatic relations this year.

Marcos’ working visit to Kazan will also coincide with the Philippines’ chairmanship of the ASEAN, whose full-fledged dialogue partners include Russia.

“As chair of ASEAN, the Philippines is committed to ensuring that this commemorative summit produces substantive and forward-looking outcomes that deepen ASEAN’s strategic partnership with Russia and contribute in concrete terms to regional peace, stability and shared prosperity,” Marcos said.

“Together with my fellow ASEAN leaders and President Vladimir Putin, we will take stock of 35 years of ASEAN-Russia cooperation and help chart the course for the decades ahead,” he added.