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. —PHOTO BY ALEXANDER NEMENOV/AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
MANILA, Philippines — President Marcos has invited Russian President Vladimir Putin to attend the East Asia Summit (EAS) in Manila this November for what would be his first visit to the Philippines.
Marcos, the current Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) chair, extended the invitation on Thursday during his bilateral meeting with Putin in Kazan on the sidelines of the commemorative summit between the 11-member bloc and Russia.
Neither Malacañang nor the Kremlin spoke about Putin’s response, although the Russian leader was seen nodding his head while talking to the President.
Putin has yet to visit the Philippines despite numerous invites from then-President Rodrigo Duterte who called him his “idol” and “personal friend.”