The President of Russia, Vladimir Putin, will make his first trip out of Russia since ordering the full-scale military operation against Ukraine, as per reports.
Putin is likely to visit two small former Soviet states in central Asia this week, a first since the February 24 invasion that has resulted in the killing of thousands of people and displaced millions in Ukraine. The President of Russia’s actions has also drawn several financial sanctions from the West.
Putin has said the sanctions are a reason to build stronger trade ties with other powers such as China, India and Iran.
The 69-year-old leader last travelled abroad to Beijing in early February, where he and Chinese President Xi Jinping unveiled a “no limits” friendship treaty hours before both attended the opening ceremony of the Olympic Winter Games.
The recent foreign trip would include a visit to close ally Tajikistan and Turkmenistan, followed by a meeting with the Indonesian President Joko Widodo for talks in Moscow, the report added, citing the Russian local media reports.
Putin will also attend a summit of Caspian nations, including the leaders of Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Iran and Turkmenistan, in Ashgabat.
The Russian President also plans to visit the Belarus city of Grodno on June 30 and July 1 to participate in a forum with President Alexander Lukashenko.