Full Breakdown
Myanmar President Min Aung Hlaing’s First Official Trip to Russia
8/18/2026, 8:00:06 AM
Visit Overview
Myanmar’s military-backed president departed Naypyitaw on August 17, 2026 for Moscow, accompanied by cabinet ministers, the chief minister of the Tanintharyi region, and the head of the Myanmar Space Agency. State media said the delegation will meet President Vladimir Putin, Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin and Lower House speaker Vyacheslav Volodin, and will attend a Myanmar-Russia Business Forum. A meeting with Putin is scheduled for August 18, 2026.
Background & Context
Min Aung Hlaing, the former junta chief, was inaugurated president in April 2026 after a parliamentary vote that UN experts and rights groups described as neither free nor fair. The military seized power in February 2021, prompting Western economic and political sanctions and a civil war that has killed thousands of civilians. Russia, together with China, has remained a principal arms supplier; Russian-made fighter jets are reportedly used in attacks on ethnic-minority-controlled territories.
Agreements and Cooperation
The agenda includes signing new accords on economy, security and social affairs. Existing projects comprise a 2025 agreement with Rosatom to build a small nuclear power plant, a 2025 memorandum on investment in the Dawei Special Economic Zone (port and oil refinery), and joint military drills. Russia has also pledged to train Myanmar’s first cosmonaut and to provide university scholarships and army training to thousands of Myanmar soldiers.
International Reactions
Western nations continue to impose sanctions, citing the coup and ongoing repression. Russia has defended Myanmar’s government in international forums and aligns with its foreign-policy agenda, describing the upcoming talks as a step toward “closer cooperation” on regional and international issues.
What’s Next
The August 18 meeting is expected to result in additional signed agreements, though specific terms have not been disclosed. Myanmar’s diplomatic outreach also seeks to improve relations with the United States and ASEAN, even as Western isolation persists.
