KUALA LUMPUR – Russian President Vladimir Putin will not attend the 47th Asean Summit in Kuala Lumpur this week, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim confirmed today, ending days of speculation over the Kremlin leader’s possible visit.
Speaking during a briefing with local and international media editors at the Ministry of Finance in Putrajaya, Anwar said Moscow would instead be represented by Russia’s Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak.
“President Putin has confirmed he will not be coming,” Anwar said, adding that Malaysia had earlier extended an invitation during his meeting with Putin in Beijing.
He added that Putin “is exploring the possibility of attending next year,” signalling continued Russian engagement with Asean despite his absence from this year’s meeting.
Putin had previously told Anwar that he was “seriously considering” attending the high-level regional gathering, which runs from October 26 to 28 under the theme “Inclusion and Sustainability.”
The event is set to bring together leaders from all ten Asean member states alongside key dialogue partners including the United States, China, Japan and India. It will also mark the largest Asean Summit since the bloc’s inaugural meeting in 1976.
Malaysia, which holds the Asean chairmanship this year, is expected to push for greater regional cooperation on trade, sustainability, and peace amid intensifying global rivalries.
Putin’s absence means the Russian delegation will likely focus on maintaining dialogue on energy cooperation, defence ties, and food security through existing Asean-Russia frameworks.
The confirmation also comes as the summit prepares to host a series of bilateral and multilateral engagements aimed at strengthening Asean’s central role in global diplomacy. — October 22, 2025