Putin to speak at SPIEF plenary session

Lead

Russian President Vladimir Putin is expected to deliver a keynote address at the plenary session of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) on June 5, according to Kremlin officials. The session, which forms the centerpiece of the annual gathering, will feature speeches from several foreign leaders and a question-and-answer segment. The forum, themed "Pragmatic Dialogue: The Path to a Stable Future," has drawn approximately 20,000 participants from more than 100 countries, including a rare official US delegation.

Coverage Comparison

TASS, the Russian state news agency, provided extensive coverage of the forum and related diplomatic events. Reports detailed President Putin's agenda, the involvement of foreign dignitaries, and the scale of international participation. The agency also highlighted statements from Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov and Presidential Aide Yury Ushakov, offering insights into Russia's official positions on both economic and security matters.

Key Claims

Putin's SPIEF Agenda and Speech

According to TASS, President Putin began preparations for events on the sidelines of SPIEF and was working on his speech for the plenary session, as confirmed by Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov on June 3. Peskov indicated that while the speech would primarily focus on economic issues both domestically and internationally, political topics would also be addressed. "Of course, no economy exists in a political vacuum. One way or another, interaction with political issues is always there, so attention will also be paid to that," Peskov was quoted as saying.

The plenary session, scheduled for June 5, is expected to follow a familiar format: speeches by participating leaders, followed by a question-and-answer session. Presidential Aide Yury Ushakov noted that the session always "attracts a lot of attention from both political circles and the media." The identity of the moderator for this year's session had not been announced at the time of reporting.

International Participation

The forum has drawn significant international participation. TASS reported that approximately 20,000 people from more than 100 countries are attending, with high-level representatives from around 76 countries. Among the attendees are Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan, Chinese Vice President Han Zheng, and Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman Al Saud. The Saudi delegation, led by the prince, includes around 200 representatives from government agencies, organizations, banks, and Saudi Aramco.

For the first time in 8-9 years, the United States sent an official delegation to SPIEF, led by Rodney Cook, head of the US Commission on Fine Arts. According to TASS, the delegation was to discuss cultural agenda items and meet with Russian officials and artists. Regional and international organizations such as APEC, CIS, CSTO, OPEC, UNCTAD, and several development banks are also represented.

Russia's Military Response and Security Statements

In remarks reported on June 3, Peskov discussed Russia's military posture, stating that the "special military operation" continues with the aim of preventing attacks like the one on St. Petersburg. He added that information on specific responses to such strikes is "entirely the prerogative of regional authorities and our Defense Ministry." Peskov also echoed a Russian Foreign Ministry statement, saying, "Our response will be systematic. It has already been systematic."

Diplomatic Engagements

Ahead of the plenary, President Putin engaged in a series of bilateral meetings. On June 3, he held talks with Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan in the Kremlin, part of a state visit spanning June 3-5. TASS reported that the two leaders discussed expanding cooperation in trade, economic matters, regional and international issues, and preparations for the third Russia-Africa Summit scheduled for October 28-29. Tanzania is described as a key African partner, with trade turnover around $400 million and a 20% increase by the end of 2024. Areas of cooperation include energy, industry, geological exploration, transportation, logistics, agriculture, and healthcare. More than 200 Tanzanian students are studying in Russia, and Air Tanzania plans to launch direct flights from Dar es Salaam to Moscow in summer 2025.

On June 4, Putin met with Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev at the Konstantinovsky Palace. During the meeting, they participated via video link in a ceremony marking the start of construction of the first power unit of an integrated nuclear power plant in Uzbekistan.

After the plenary session on June 5, Putin was scheduled to meet with Chinese Vice President Han Zheng to discuss the results of Putin's May visit to Beijing and prospects for further Russia-China relations.

SPIEF Procedural Details

TASS reported details on the duration of the plenary session, which ended after three hours and 33 minutes on June 5. This year's session was shorter than the previous year's, which lasted four hours. President Putin's speech lasted 45 minutes, compared to 55 minutes in 2025. The forum's guest country is Saudi Arabia, and TASS is the official general information partner. The Roscongress Foundation organizes SPIEF, which is taking place on June 3-6.