Russia’s Putin hosts Myanmar leader, talks up energy projects

Russian President Vladimir Putin held talks in Moscow ⁠on Tuesday with ⁠Myanmar’s junta chief-turned-president, Min Aung ⁠Hlaing, discussing a wide range of issues including prospective energy deals.Russia is the first non-neighbouring country Min Aung Hlaing has visited since becoming Myanmar’s president in April, a sign of the two countries’ ‌deepening ties in the face of pressure from the West.In remarks after the meeting, Putin described Min Aung Hlaing as a friend of Russia and said the two countries were cooperating across a range of sectors, including energy, defence and even space exploration.Putin said Russia was in talks ⁠with Myanmar on the construction of an oil refinery as well as on ‌hydrocarbon production and exploration, including on Myanmar’s continental shelf.He also said there were good prospects for supplies of Russian liquefied natural gas ‌to Myanmar, including for onward transit to other countries.Myanmar President Min Aung Hlaing enters a hall during a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow, Russia, on Tuesday. Photo: Sputnik via ReutersThe former general, ⁠Min Aung Hlaing, ⁠is the target of a raft of Western sanctions and has been on a quest ‌for international legitimacy since winning a vote in parliament to become president, which came after an election dominated ‌by an army-backed ‌party in the absence of a viable opposition.