Introductory Remarks of the President of the Republic of Indonesia at the Bilateral Meeting with the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin Palace, Moscow, Monday, April 13, 2026

Thank you, Your Excellency President Putin.

Allow me to express my sincere gratitude for receiving me at such short notice. Despite Your Excellency’s busy schedule, Your Excellency have made the time to meet me. I am truly grateful for this opportunity.

Since our last meeting a few months ago, I have had the opportunity to meet with many Russian delegations in Jakarta. Furthermore, here in Moscow, I have just recently met with several Russian officials and representatives from various Russian companies. I would like to express my appreciation, as our discussions have been highly efficient.

The primary purpose of my visit today is to convey my gratitude to [Your Excellency] President Putin and the Government of the Russian Federation for your continued support for Indonesia.

First, Indonesia was admitted to BRICS in a relatively short period of time, for which we are grateful.

Furthermore, on several matters of critical importance to Indonesia, [Your Excellency] President Putin has extended strong support to our national priorities. Nearly all areas of cooperation that we agreed upon a few months ago have shown significant progress. There are one or two matters that require further acceleration, and I will personally handle them. Particularly in relation to monetary cooperation between our two countries, I will oversee this matter myself.

Your Excellency, I have also come to seek consultation, as the global geopolitical landscape is evolving and changing rapidly. We observe that Russia has played a constructive role in navigating these current uncertainties in the geopolitical situation. Therefore, we believe it is highly essential to exchange views on how to address future challenges, particularly in strengthening our cooperation in the economic and energy sectors.

Once again, I would like to express my sincere appreciation for receiving me at such short notice. I would also like to extend my congratulations as Your Excellency and the Russian nation have just observed an important occasion, Easter. In addition, I understand that recently, on April 12, to be exact, Russia commemorated Cosmonautics Day, which has had a significant global impact. Many Indonesians have even named their children Gagarin or Yuri, reflecting its influence.

(YA/TM)