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Cristina Chi - Philstar.com
June 18, 2026 | 3:44pm
Russia's President Vladimir Putin greets Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. during a ceremony to welcome Southeast Asian leaders and heads of delegations participating in the Russia-ASEAN summit, which commemorates 35 years of collaboration between Russia and the ASEAN countries, in the central Russian city of Kazan, around 700 kilometers east of the capital Moscow, on June 17, 2026.
AFP / Alexander Nemenov
MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said the Philippines and Russia have "a great deal more" room to expand trade and economic cooperation, as he met Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Speaking at the start of their bilateral meeting in Kazan on Wednesday, June 17, Marcos said trade between the two countries is steady but there are also untapped opportunities for doing more business.
"There are many potential areas that I think we should still open to explore," Marcos told Putin. "The present level of trade, although it is steady, I think that there is a great deal more that we can do."
The Marcos-Putin meeting comes as Russia appears to be stepping up efforts to strengthen economic ties with Southeast Asia, amid continuing Western sanctions imposed after its invasion of Ukraine.
Putin said Russia sees "good potential" to expand cooperation with the Philippines, particularly in agriculture and energy. The two leaders in their meeting also discussed broader economic ties as Manila and Moscow marks 50 years of diplomatic relations this year.
The Philippines is the oldest treaty ally of the United States in Asia and, like most ASEAN members, supported a 2022 United Nations resolution condemning Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
But ASEAN has continued to engage Moscow as a dialogue partner despite the war.
On Wednesday, Marcos cited discussions during the fourth meeting of the Philippine-Russia Joint Commission on Trade and Economic Cooperation in Moscow last September.
The president said business-to-business engagements held alongside the meeting had helped Philippine and Russian firms establish contacts and explore potential joint ventures.
Beyond trade, Marcos said the Philippines hopes to continue regular political consultations with Russia.
"They provide a very important opportunity to explore further ways of cooperation," he said.
Marcos also invited Putin to attend the 21st East Asia Summit, which Manila is scheduled to host in November as chair of ASEAN.
