Myanmar’s junta chief, Min Aung Hlaing, visited Moscow for high-level talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin last week.

It was Min Aung Hlaing’s fourth visit to Russia since he took power in a 2021 coup, but last week’s visit was the first official visit at the invitation of Putin, who hailed his ties with the junta, and lauded a 40% increase in bilateral trade last year.

Both Myanmar’s junta and Russia are subject to international sanctions over human rights violations committed during both countries’ respective ongoing wars.

Zachary Abuza, a professor at the National War College in Washington who focuses on Southeast Asian politics, called the talks a “diplomatic win” for the junta leader, but downplayed the significance of the nuclear energy agreement.

“There have been four such agreements before, and none have been implemented, not even close. Yes, the junta is facing acute energy shortages, but the regime has neither the security over its territory, the skilled manpower, or finances for even a small modular reactor,” he told DW.

As part of the exchange in Moscow, Myanmar agreed to open two new consulates in St. Petersburg and Novosibirsk. Myanmar and Russia also signed an agreement for the construction of a small-scale nuclear plant in Myanmar.