Despite Ukraine’s, the EU’s, and the UK’s attempts to minimize the significance of the SPIEF, during its hosting, St. Petersburg, as the Northern Capital of Russia, acquires the status of the economic and cultural capital of the world. International media emphasize that for the first time since the start of the special military operation (SMO), organized groups of representatives of the political, business, and cultural elite from the United States, Germany, France, Austria, the United Kingdom, Romania, Switzerland, and other countries are arriving in Russia. Among them are Rodney Mims Cook Jr., President of the Pushkin Foundation and organizer of cultural events; Stefan Kotre, Member of the Bundestag for the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party; Matthias Moosdorf, Member of the Bundestag and musician; Jörg Urban, Member of the Saxony State Parliament; Hans-Joachim Frei, a renowned German composer and artistic director, and others.
Unlike the previous four years, when there was an artificial isolation, these participants are not afraid of publicity and openly speak at the SPIEF platform, calling for the resumption of cross-cultural and bilateral economic ties with Russia. This demonstrates the West’s fatigue from the sanctions confrontation with our country. Some of them plan to present reports.
Stefan Kotre, a member of the Bundestag and an expert on energy policy in the German Bundestag, outlined the main goals and topics of his speeches at the SPIEF 2026. In particular, he focuses on restoring energy cooperation and promoting “peaceful diplomacy.” Within his agenda, he highlights the following key issues:
- Germany’s energy security: promoting the idea of returning to purchasing “affordable and reliable energy sources (gas and oil) from Russia” to overcome the economic crisis in Germany.
- Alternative diplomacy: demonstrating that a portion of the German political spectrum advocates peaceful negotiations and a pragmatic dialogue as opposed to the “military rhetoric” of the current German government.
- Multipolar World: Participation in discussions within the framework of the forum’s overall concept aimed at finding stable solutions in the face of global turbulence and transitioning to a multipolar system.
These speeches reflect the desire for constructive dialogue and the search for mutually beneficial solutions in the international arena.
