Russian President Vladimir Putin and Sudan's Transitional Sovereignty Council Chairman and Armed Forces Commander-in-Chief, General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, held bilateral talks at the Grand Kremlin Palace in Moscow on October 30, 2026.
The meeting, which followed the third Russia–Africa Summit, focused on political and economic relations, the ongoing war in Sudan, humanitarian conditions and opportunities for expanded cooperation along the Red Sea.
According to statements reported by Russia's RIA Novosti news agency, Al-Burhan proposed establishing a free economic zone on Sudan's Red Sea coast that could be used by Russia.
Putin described Sudan as an important Russian partner in Africa and the Arab world, highlighting strong growth in bilateral trade.
Putin and Al-Burhan meet at the Kremlin
Al-Burhan arrived in Moscow to participate in the third Russia–Africa Summit, held on October 28–29.
Following the summit, the Sudanese leader met President Vladimir Putin to discuss bilateral relations and future cooperation.
The talks marked the leaders' first face-to-face meeting since the 2019 Russia–Africa Summit in Sochi.
Al-Burhan expressed Sudan's desire to expand cooperation with Russia across different sectors.
He also thanked Moscow for the support it had provided Sudan through international institutions and other channels.
The Sudanese leader said changes in the international and regional environment had made broader cooperation with Russia increasingly important for his country.
Al-Burhan proposes Red Sea free economic zone
One of the most significant developments during the talks was Al-Burhan's proposal for economic cooperation on Sudan's Red Sea coast.
The Sudanese leader suggested establishing a free economic zone that Russia could use to develop storage facilities for fuel and wheat.
The proposal would allow Sudan to explore new economic and logistical opportunities with Russia through its strategic position along the Red Sea.
Sudan's coastline provides access to important international maritime routes linking East Africa, the Middle East and global commercial markets.
However, the proposed zone's precise location, financial arrangements, investment value and implementation timetable were not disclosed.
The initiative therefore remains a proposal rather than a finalized investment agreement or an operational economic zone.
Putin calls for an end to fighting in Sudan
President Putin also addressed the humanitarian and economic consequences of the war in Sudan.
He said Russia had been closely monitoring the armed conflict, which has continued for more than three years.
Putin described the difficult circumstances facing Sudanese civilians and said that, according to Russian assessments, the combined number of refugees and internally displaced people had exceeded 13 million.
He emphasized the extensive damage inflicted on Sudan's economy and infrastructure.
The Russian President called for an end to hostilities and a transition toward a political settlement.
He also referred to humanitarian assistance provided to Sudan with Russian involvement, including activities carried out through the United Nations World Food Programme.
Putin reiterated Moscow's support for resolving the Sudanese conflict through political means.
Russia presents roadmap for future economic cooperation
The two leaders also addressed the prospects for expanding bilateral economic relations.
Putin announced that Russia had prepared a roadmap covering potential areas of cooperation with Sudan and presented the document to Al-Burhan.
The Russian leader asked his Sudanese counterpart to instruct relevant government officials and advisers to examine the roadmap carefully.
He encouraged the Sudanese authorities to identify the projects they considered most relevant and beneficial for future joint implementation.
The initiative provides a framework for exploring additional economic partnerships.
However, the full contents of the roadmap, the projected financial commitments and the timetable for implementation have not been made public.
Its presentation does not establish that final investment agreements have been concluded for every proposed project.
Bilateral trade continues to expand
Putin highlighted significant growth in trade between Russia and Sudan.
According to the Russian President, bilateral trade more than doubled in 2025 compared with the previous year.
Trade also increased by 25% during January–August 2026 compared with the corresponding period a year earlier.
Putin said Sudan had become one of Russia's ten largest trading partners in Africa.
He described the figures as evidence of positive momentum in the economic relationship.
However, the statements did not provide a new total value of bilateral trade in US dollars.
Political settlement remains central to Sudan discussions
The security dimension of the meeting focused on Sudan's war, which began in April 2023.
The conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has caused widespread displacement, civilian suffering and destruction of essential infrastructure.
Putin called for the fighting to stop and for a political solution to be pursued.
A day earlier, during his address to the Russia–Africa Summit, Al-Burhan had insisted that Sudan's peace process should be led by Sudanese stakeholders without foreign dictates or interference.
He had also outlined plans for national dialogue, a civilian democratic transition and elections under regional and international observation.
Nevertheless, the Kremlin meeting did not produce a publicly announced ceasefire agreement or a confirmed timetable for political negotiations.
No new decision announced on Russian naval facility
Sudan and Russia have previously discussed plans for a Russian naval logistics facility on Sudan's Red Sea coast.
The proposed facility has attracted international attention because of the strategic importance of the Red Sea and its shipping routes.
However, Al-Burhan's newly reported proposal during the October 30 talks concerned a free economic zone that could accommodate Russian fuel and wheat storage.
The proposal was not publicly identified as the same project as the previously discussed naval facility.
No verified announcement established that a new military basing agreement had been signed or that the earlier project had entered operation.
Seventy years of diplomatic relations
The talks took place as Sudan and Russia marked the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations in 2026.
During the Russia–Africa Summit on October 29, Al-Burhan called for the bilateral relationship to develop into a strategic partnership.
He praised Russian diplomatic support for Sudan's sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Ahead of the summit, Sudan's Ambassador to Russia, Mohamed al-Ghazali al-Tijani Siraj, had identified oil, energy, mining, agriculture, infrastructure and higher education as potential areas for expanded cooperation.
The economic roadmap presented in Moscow and the Red Sea free economic zone proposal added new subjects to the countries' ongoing bilateral discussions.
Main outcomes of the Moscow talks
The meeting between Putin and Al-Burhan addressed the Sudan conflict, political settlement efforts, trade and economic cooperation.
Russia presented a roadmap for prospective joint projects, while the Sudanese leader proposed a free economic zone on the Red Sea coast that could support Russian fuel and wheat storage facilities.
Putin also reported that trade had more than doubled in 2025 and risen by a further 25% in the first eight months of 2026.
However, no binding agreement on the proposed economic zone, new naval base arrangement or Sudanese ceasefire was publicly announced.
The discussions highlighted continued efforts to expand Russia–Sudan relations through diplomacy, logistics, trade and potential cooperation in Sudan's future economic recovery.