A 'rogues' gallery' of notorious figures at Russia's biggest economic conference

Article excerpt

Russia's St. Petersburg Economic Forum drew a striking cast of international figures willing to publicly support Putin's policies, despite ongoing Western sanctions and geopolitical tensions. While Putin's special envoy Kirill Dmitriev claimed Russia-U.S. talks continue on economic and energy matters, even as Ukraine peace negotiations stall, the conference itself became a stage for what observers call a "rogues' gallery" of controversial figures. The gathering underscores how Russia maintains selective engagement with foreign actors and supporters, even as diplomatic channels narrow on core conflicts.