President-elect Prabowo Subianto met with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin in Moscow on Monday, April 13. The high-profile encounter, broadcast live on the Presidential Secretariat’s YouTube channel, began with Prabowo’s arrival at the palace, where he was immediately greeted by Putin with a notably warm handshake, signaling a cordial atmosphere for their discussions.
During his opening remarks, President Putin extended a gracious welcome, referring to Prabowo as an “esteemed friend” and expressing profound gratitude for his willingness to accept the invitation. “Your Excellency Mr. President, our distinguished friend. First, allow me to convey my most sincere thanks for Your Excellency’s willingness to accept our invitation and visit Moscow,” Putin stated, underscoring the significance Russia places on this visit and the ongoing relationship between the two leaders. Putin further articulated his pleasure at Prabowo’s presence, noting that the contacts between them have been intense, regular, and substantially meaningful.
Accompanying President-elect Prabowo on this crucial visit were several key Indonesian officials, including Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya, Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Bahlil Lahadalia, and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sugiono, highlighting the breadth of areas for potential cooperation.
Prabowo Extends Easter and Cosmonautics Day Greetings to Putin
In a gesture of goodwill during their bilateral meeting at the Kremlin, President-elect Prabowo Subianto conveyed his felicitations to President Vladimir Putin on the recent celebrations of Easter and Cosmonautics Day. “I extend my congratulations that Your Excellency and all Russian people have just honored an important day, Easter. I also know that a few days ago — if I’m not mistaken, yesterday, April 12 — was Cosmonautics Day for Russia, which also holds immense global influence,” Prabowo remarked, acknowledging Russia’s cultural and scientific milestones.
Prabowo humorously touched upon Russia’s profound impact on Indonesia through its space program. He observed that many Indonesian parents have named their children “Yuri” and “Gagarin” in tribute to the legendary Russian cosmonauts, a remark that was met with a warm reception and a lighthearted atmosphere. Beyond these cordial greetings, Prabowo emphasized that a primary objective of his visit to Russia was to engage in consultations regarding the rapidly evolving global geopolitical landscape. “Your Excellency, I have come to consult because the world’s geopolitical situation is experiencing very rapid developments and changes,” he concluded, setting a serious tone for their strategic dialogue.
Prabowo Expresses Gratitude to Putin for BRICS Support
President-elect Prabowo Subianto conveyed his profound appreciation to President Vladimir Putin for Russia’s unwavering support for Indonesia, particularly highlighting its backing for Indonesia’s prospective membership in the BRICS economic bloc. This significant acknowledgment was made during their bilateral discussions at the Kremlin on Monday, April 13, underscoring the growing diplomatic and economic ties between the two nations.
“The core purpose and objective of my visit today is to express my gratitude to President Putin and the Russian government for Russia’s support for Indonesia. Firstly, we were accepted so quickly into BRICS,” Prabowo stated, emphasizing the swift progress in Indonesia’s application. He also expressed sincere thanks for the hospitality extended by President Putin, particularly given the short notice of his visit amidst Putin’s busy schedule. “Thank you, Your Excellency President Putin, I am the one who thanks you because I was received with such a short request, but despite Your Excellency’s busy schedule, you were able to receive me. I am very grateful,” he added. Furthermore, Prabowo thanked Putin for other critical support provided to Indonesia, affirming his personal commitment to directly oversee and accelerate several key initiatives stemming from their discussions.
Cabinet Secretary: Prabowo-Putin Meeting Spanned 5 Hours, Covered Energy to Education Cooperation
The meeting between President-elect Prabowo Subianto and Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin was an extensive one, lasting a total of five hours, according to Cabinet Secretary Lt. Col. Teddy Indra Wijaya. Through the @sekretariat.kabinet Instagram account on Monday, April 13, Teddy detailed the structure of the engagement: “The meeting between the two leaders lasted for 5 hours, beginning with 2 hours of bilateral discussions, followed by a 3-hour closed-door, one-on-one meeting between the two leaders.” This extended duration underscores the depth and importance of the topics discussed.
During these intensive deliberations, several significant agreements were successfully reached, as confirmed by Teddy. A key area of focus was enhanced, long-term cooperation in the energy sector. This includes vital discussions on oil and gas energy security and downstreaming initiatives, aiming to strengthen Indonesia’s energy independence and industrial capabilities. Moreover, the leaders agreed to continue and expand collaborations across a range of other crucial sectors, including education, technology, agriculture, and investments directed towards industrial development within Indonesia.
Teddy emphasized Russia’s prominent global standing as a strategic partner. “We know that Russia’s position is very strategic in the global world. Besides being one of the UN Security Council permanent members with veto power and a founder of BRICS, Russia is one of the world’s major powers with the largest natural resources globally,” Teddy stated, providing context for the extensive scope of cooperation and mutual benefit sought by both nations in this impactful summit.