Sultan Ibrahim commented on his upcoming state visit to Russia at a briefing, which was led by Foreign Ministry Secretary-General Dato Seri Azman Mohd Zin at the Istana Negara Palace. Russian Ambassador to Malaysia Nail Latypov was reportedly present.
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim paid an official visit to Russia in May. During the visit, President Vladimir Putin conveyed his warm regards to Sultan Ibrahim and extended a formal invitation for the King to visit Russia.
Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar, the hereditary ruler of the Malaysian state of Johor (one of the country's states with a hereditary form of governance), ascended the Malaysian throne in January 2024. In Malaysia, the King is elected every 5 years by the Conference of Rulers in accordance with the country's constitution. Of Malaysia's 13 states, nine are headed by hereditary rulers who serve as constitutional monarchs. These rulers are members of the Conference of Rulers and elect one ruler from among themselves to serve as king for a 5-year term.