Vladimir Putin makes rare public appearance in Kazan during ASEAN summit

Russian President Vladimir Putin visited Kazan, a city in southwestern Russia, marking his first public appearance in months. The visit coincided with a two‑day ASEAN summit celebrating 35 years of Russia‑ASEAN relations, during which Putin hosted regional leaders and emphasized the need to increase trade, investment and industrial cooperation.

Security concerns have limited Putin’s public outings, with Russian officials noting a sharp drop in such appearances following recent Ukrainian drone attacks. A video released by a Kremlin‑linked channel showed one of Putin’s bodyguards referring to the cheering crowd as “extras,” underscoring the tightly controlled nature of the event.

The appearance is seen as an effort by Moscow to showcase domestic support and to strengthen economic ties with Southeast Asian nations despite Western sanctions related to the war in Ukraine.