It’s time for President Vladimir Putin’s hotly anticipated annual speech – the one he usually delivers during the International Economic Forum (SPIEF) in St Petersburg.
The question is which foreign guests are in the audience?
In the midst of the full-scale Russian war of aggression against Ukraine, the annual International Economic Forum, SPIEF, is being held in Russian President Vladimir Putin’s old hometown of St. Petersburg.
Today, Putin delivers his traditional speech at the event – a customary long one, followed by a discussion. This is stated by the Russian president’s spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov, according to the state news agency Tass.
According to Peskov, Putin will not participate in any other program items.
Few foreign participants
The theme of the Russian president’s speech is still unknown, but it is clear that it will be held in front of a significantly smaller international crowd than in previous years.
When the 26th edition of SPIEF – often called the “Davos of Russia” – opened in St. Petersburg on Wednesday, it was the second time the event was held after Russia launched its full-scale war of aggression against Ukraine. This year, the event also takes place in the midst of the ongoing Ukrainian counter-offensive, which recently began.
Already last year, the Ukraine war led to significant casualties among the leading business leaders and politicians from the West who previously used to visit the event. This year it looks like it will be even more empty among the rows of chairs.
Brazilian President Lula da Silva has declined to attend, as has Kazakhstan’s President Kasym-Zjomart Tokayev.
Even the champagne-soaked parties organized by Russian oligarchs in connection with the forum – at which Western oil company executives were previously seen mingling with Russian ministers – are a thing of the past.
Die-hard allies in place
However, some of Putin’s staunchest allies have announced that they will come to St. Petersburg. Among them is Austria’s former foreign minister Karin Kneissl, who danced with the Russian president at his wedding party, according to The New York Times.
Matthias Moosdorf, Member of Parliament for the far-right German party AFD, has also announced that he will attend the meeting, the newspaper writes.
Putin’s speech at SPIEF 2022 revolved heavily around a staunch defense of the full-scale war of aggression against Ukraine. It also contained vicious accusations against the West.
The purpose of the International Economic Forum, which was held for the first time in 1997, is to attract investors from the Western world to Russia.
FACTS
Vladimir Putin
Vladimir Putin was born on October 7, 1952 in what was then Leningrad.
Putin is a trained lawyer. In the 1980s he worked for the KGB in East Germany and in the 1990s for the city administration in St. Petersburg, before becoming head of the FSB security service in 1998.
He was appointed Prime Minister on 9 August 1999 and became President in 2000.
In 2008–2012, he was prime minister again, before returning to the presidency in May 2012.
In March 2018, Putin was elected president for a new six-year term. In 2020, a constitutional amendment was hammered out that could give Putin the opportunity to remain in power until 2036.
Vladimir Putin has two adult daughters with his ex-wife. He is also believed to have at least three children with alleged longtime girlfriend Alina Kabajeva, as well as another daughter with a former mistress.
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