Putin Hails Explosive Ethiopia-Russia Trade Surge to $1.3 Billion!

Russian President Vladimir Putin recently highlighted the significant growth in bilateral trade between Russia and Ethiopia, which surpassed 1.3 billion USD in the first nine months of 2026. This figure represents more than double the total trade recorded for the entirety of 2025, underscoring Moscow's strong commitment to deepening economic and trade cooperation with the African nation.

Speaking during a meeting with Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed on the sidelines of the Third Russia-Africa Summit held in Moscow on October 28, President Putin emphasized the friendly and constructive nature of Ethiopia-Russia relations. He pointed out numerous promising opportunities for extensive cooperation across various sectors, including energy, agriculture, industrial development, peaceful space exploration, science, healthcare, and education.

President Putin further reaffirmed Russia's dedication to strengthening its longstanding ties with Ethiopia. He also described the bilateral connections and his personal interactions with PM Abiy as substantive and constructive, recalling their earlier meeting at the BRICS Summit in New Delhi in September, where they reviewed key areas of their partnership, as reported by the Russian Foreign Ministry.

On the international front, President Putin stressed the importance of the two countries' coordination through platforms such as the United Nations, BRICS, and other multilateral forums. He voiced Russia's full support for Africa's emergence as a crucial center in the evolving multipolar world order. Moscow, he added, plans to focus particularly on expanding trade and economic cooperation with African nations, ensuring food and energy security, and advancing healthcare development.

Looking ahead, President Putin extended his best wishes to Ethiopia for its role as host of the 2027 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Addis Ababa. He also mentioned that the Third Russia-Africa Summit would conclude with the adoption of a declaration and a new Action Plan for the Russia-Africa Partnership Forum, covering the period from 2027 to 2029. This summit, he noted, served as a vital platform to continue discussions on enhancing the multifaceted relations between Ethiopia and Russia, as well as addressing current regional and international issues.