Putin: Russia's trade with Libya continues to develop despite complex international situation

Trade between Russia and Libya continues to develop "despite the complex situation in international politics and economics," Vladimir Putin stated during talks with Libya's Presidential Council chairman Muhammad al-Menfi in Moscow.

Putin called Libya "a long-standing partner of Russia in North Africa" and recalled that 2025 marks 70 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries. In April, the first meeting of the co-chairs of the joint inter-governmental commission took place in Moscow; the Russian president expressed interest in "the earliest possible resumption of its full-scale work."

Separately, Putin pointed to cooperation between the two countries on multilateral platforms — in the Gas Exporting Countries Forum, including at that organization's summit in Moscow, which both leaders attended, as well as within OPEC+. According to him, joint work in these formats makes it possible to "develop measures to ensure global energy security."

The meeting took place on the eve of the opening of the third Russia-Africa summit, which begins on Wednesday.