Russian President Vladimir Putin is holding talks with the head of Myanmar’s military government, who is seeking to cement ties with Moscow as he faces isolation from the West.

MOSCOW: Myanmar's military chief Min Aung Hlaing met President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Tuesday (March 4) as the junta - shunned and sanctioned by the West - turns to a major international backer to aid in its ongoing conflict with ethnic armed groups.

Russia's President Vladimir Putin hailed expanding ties with ally Myanmar at talks with its military junta chief on Tuesday and thanked him for gifting Moscow six elephants.

Min Aung Hlaing's military uses weapons from Russia in the ongoing civil war against opposition groups across Myanmar.

Myanmar's leader and military chief Min Aung Hlaing was greeted in Moscow on Tuesday by one of President Vladimir Putin's top security officials. Sergei Shoigu, the secretary of Russia's Security Council,

Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar Min Aung Hlaing have concluded bilateral negotiations. Following the talks, a joint statement by the leaders was adopted, and a number of intergovernmental and interdepartmental documents were signed.

President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday praised Russia's developing ties with Myanmar, during a visit by the Asian country's junta chief to its key ally.

The head of Myanmar’s military government is traveling to Russia, a major ally of the Southeast Asian nation shunned by much of the West for overthrowing a democratically elected government and subsequent brutal repression.

Head of Myanmar’s military government visits Russia Watch live as the head of Myanmar’s military government Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing lays flowers at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at the Kremlin.

By bno - Bangkok bureau Myanmar’s military leader, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, is in Russia for his second meeting with President Vladimir Putin, according to an announcement by the Kremlin, and as reported by BBC Burmese.