Addis Ababa (AMECO)— Russian President Vladimir Putin has described Ethiopia as a “longstanding and reliable partner” on the African continent, pointing to a tripling of bilateral trade and deepening geopolitical alignment, as disclosed by the Russian Embassy in Addis Ababa in a social media post.
Speaking during a bilateral meeting with Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed on the sidelines of the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi on September 12, Mr Putin highlighted significant momentum in economic ties, noting that bilateral trade had more than tripled in 2025 and continues to grow, describing the progress as a “good result”.
According to the information released by the embassy, Mr Putin expressed appreciation to Mr Abiy for his “significant personal contribution” to strengthening bilateral relations based on principles of equality and mutual benefit.
The Russian leader underscored the strategic role of BRICS, characterising the grouping as a partnership aimed at “consolidating the positions of the global majority and shaping a fair multipolar world”. He noted that it was symbolic that Ethiopia, which became a full member on January 1, 2024, began its practical work within the bloc as Russia assumed the chairship, praising Ethiopia’s constructive contribution since joining.
The meeting opened with Mr Putin extending greetings to Mr Abiy and the Ethiopian people on the occasion of the Ethiopian New Year, marking the beginning of 2019 according to the Ethiopian calendar, which was celebrated the previous day.
In addition to economic and political cooperation, Mr Putin highlighted long-standing educational ties, noting that over 20,000 Ethiopian citizens have received an education in Russia, forming what he described as a solid foundation for future humanitarian cooperation.
Looking ahead, Mr Putin confirmed that Russia will host the Third Russia-Africa Summit in Moscow on October 28–29 this year, where he looks forward to holding another bilateral meeting with Mr Abiy to discuss the full spectrum of relations.
