A Question Swirling Around Putin’s Big Conference: Could the War End?

Article excerpt

At Russia's annual St. Petersburg Economic Forum, business and political elites debated whether the country could afford to continue its war, with some suggesting Moscow faced a choice between halting the conflict or enduring mounting sacrifices. Vladimir Putin's remarks at the gathering suggested he favored escalation over negotiation. The forum, traditionally a showcase for Russia's economic ties to the West, instead became a forum for discussing the war's trajectory and its toll on the Russian economy and society.