Singapore's Prime Minister Lawrence Wong will attend the ASEAN-Russia Commemorative Summit in Kazan, Russia, on June 17 and 18, 2026, alongside Minister for Foreign Affairs Vivian Balakrishnan [1, 2, 3, 4]. The summit commemorates 30 years of ASEAN-Russia dialogue partnership and 35 years of ASEAN-Russia relations [1, 2, 3, 4].
At the summit, ASEAN and Russia leaders will discuss advancing their strategic partnership and deepening cooperation across energy, connectivity, education, and cultural sectors [1, 2, 3, 4]. Russian President Vladimir Putin will host ASEAN leaders at a gala concert, dinner, plenary session, working lunch, and hold separate meetings with them [1, 2, 3, 4].
During PM Wong’s absence from Singapore, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry Gan Kim Yong will serve as Acting Prime Minister [1, 2, 3, 4]. The last ASEAN-Russia summit was held in 2021 via video conference with then-PM Lee Hsien Loong attending, following his previous attendance at the 2016 summit in Sochi, Russia [1, 2, 3, 4].
Despite Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, ASEAN continues engaging Russia through forums like the East Asia Summit and ASEAN Regional Forum [1, 2, 3, 4]. Singapore, the only ASEAN member to impose sanctions on Russia since February 2022, has implemented export controls on dual-use items, financial measures against Russian banks, and blocked fundraising activities for the Russian government [1, 2, 3, 4]. Singapore has also condemned Russia’s invasion as a violation of international law [2, 3, 4].
The ASEAN-Russia Commemorative Summit on June 17 and 18 will be a key platform for shaping future cooperation.
