TheJakartaPost

Please Update your browser

Your browser is out of date, and may not be compatible with our website. A list of the most popular web browsers can be found below.
Just click on the icons to get to the download page.

Jakarta Post

President Prabowo to meet Putin in Russia for oil talks

The presidency in Jakarta confirmed to AFP that Prabowo would leave Sunday evening.

Agencies
Jakarta
Sun, April 12, 2026 Published on Apr. 12, 2026 Published on 2026-04-12T20:02:57+07:00

Change text size

Gift Premium Articles
to Anyone

Share the best of The Jakarta Post with friends, family, or colleagues. As a subscriber, you can gift 3 to 5 articles each month that anyone can read—no subscription needed!
President Prabowo Subianto walks down the stairs after disembarking the presidential aircraft at Halim Perdanakusuma Air Force Base in Jakarta on April 1, 2026. Prabowo returns home after finishing a four-day trip to Japan and South Korea. President Prabowo Subianto walks down the stairs after disembarking the presidential aircraft at Halim Perdanakusuma Air Force Base in Jakarta on April 1, 2026. Prabowo returns home after finishing a four-day trip to Japan and South Korea. (Courtesy of Presidential Secretariat/Cahyo)

P

resident Prabowo Subianto will depart for Russia on Sunday for talks with counterpart Vladimir Putin on oil, the presidential office has said.

The presidency in Jakarta confirmed to AFP that Prabowo would leave Sunday evening.

Foreign Minister Sugiono said Saturday that oil, which is "of strategic importance for the Indonesian nation", would be on the agenda.

"He will meet with President Putin and will also discuss global geopolitics and, certainly, the energy situation," said Sugiono.

Prabowo, who recently travelled to South Korea and Japan, has defended his foreign travels.

"Brothers and sisters, it's to secure oil, I have to go everywhere," he said in an address to his cabinet last week.

Like many nations, Indonesia has come under pressure from soaring global oil prices over the war in the Middle East.

Around 20 percent to 25 percent of Indonesia's crude oil imports are sourced from the Middle East and the government has said it is boosting imports from other places such as Angola and Nigeria to ensure enough supply at home.

Last month, Prabowo's government announced fuel rationing and mandated a day-per-week work-from-home policy for civil servants to conserve energy stocks.

It has vowed not to increase the price of fuel in the near future.

Russia's ambassador to Indonesia Sergei Tolchenov told reporters in March that his country was open to selling oil to Indonesia.

"If Indonesia needs it, so please tell us and you will have it," Tolchenov said as the countries prepared for joint military exercises at a Jakarta port.

When asked about a possible visit to Moscow by Prabowo and whether the Indonesian leader would discuss oil purchases with Putin, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said that contacts between the two leaders were being prepared. 

Last year, Jakarta joined the BRICS bloc of emerging economies that includes Russia and China.

But Prabowo has also signed a trade deal with US President Donald Trump and joined his so-called "Board of Peace".

 

Your Opinion Matters

Share your experiences, suggestions, and any issues you've encountered on The Jakarta Post. We're here to listen.

Enter at least 30 characters
0 / 30

Thank You

Thank you for sharing your thoughts. We appreciate your feedback.

Share options

Quickly share this news with your network—keep everyone informed with just a single click!

Change text size options

Customize your reading experience by adjusting the text size to small, medium, or large—find what’s most comfortable for you.

Gift Premium Articles
to Anyone

Share the best of The Jakarta Post with friends, family, or colleagues. As a subscriber, you can gift 3 to 5 articles each month that anyone can read—no subscription needed!

Continue in the app

Get the best experience—faster access, exclusive features, and a seamless way to stay updated.