Myanmar’s military govt head holds talks with Putin

Russian President Vladimir Putin was holding talks on Tuesday with the head of Myanmar’s military government, who is seeking to cement cooperation with Moscow as he faces isolation and sanctions from the West. Gen Min Aung Hlaing is making his fourth trip to Russia since his army seized power in February 2021 from the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi.

Western nations have ostracised Myanmar’s ruling military and imposed economic and political sanctions in response to the takeover and the violent repression of opposition, which has led to the deaths of thousands of civilians and given rise to an armed conflict widely seen as a civil war.

Russia and China are major supporters and arms suppliers to Myanmar. Russian-made fighter jets are used in attacks on territory under the control of ethnic minority groups, many of which are allies with pro-democracy resistance forces. “Russia is a key backer of the Myanmar military,” said a Singapore-based analyst.