New delhi: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim described his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin as 'great' following their 20-minute bilateral discussion held on the sidelines of the 18th BRICS Leaders' Summit in New Delhi.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the meeting marked Anwar's first bilateral engagement upon his arrival in India. The Summit, hosted by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, focuses on themes such as resilience, innovation, cooperation, and sustainability, aiming to bolster economic cooperation and trade and investment reforms among member and partner nations.

Russia, a founding BRICS member, and Malaysia, participating as a partner country, have enjoyed a longstanding diplomatic relationship since 1967. This relationship encompasses various sectors, including trade, investment, energy, education, tourism, and defense.

In 2024, ASEAN-Russia trade was reported to be US$18.1 billion, with Russian foreign direct investment in ASEAN reaching RM367.90 million (US$92.97 million). In 2025, Russia ranked as Malaysia's ninth-largest trading partner among European nations, with trade valued at RM8.72 billion (US$2.04 billion). Malaysia's main exports to Russia include electrical and electronic products, machinery, equipment and parts, and processed food, while its primary imports consist of petroleum products, minerals, and chemicals.