The Russian president is headlining the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum’s plenary session
Russian President Vladimir Putin is taking part in the plenary session of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum. He is expected to comment on a backhanded offer of peace talks by Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky.
Putin is appearing at the forum’s main event alongside Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan, Chinese Vice President Han Zheng, and Saudi Energy Minister Abdulaziz bin Salman Al Saud.
The Russian leader spoke to heads of international news agencies on Thursday, discussing progress in the conflict with Ukraine, as well as the potential role of the EU in settling the conflict should European leaders “abandon their colonial approach and talk to Russia as an equal partner.” Putin also discussed Russia’s ‘Oreshnik’ ballistic missile, saying that the three uses of the system so far have allowed the Russian military to “make decisions in the future on the full-scale use of Oreshnik against designated targets, including in urban areas.”
Speaking to reporters on Friday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that Putin would likely comment on a recent letter from Zelensky during the plenary session. In the letter, Zelensky levied an array of insults at the Russian president and threatened Russia with drone strikes, before asking Putin to meet for peace talks in a third country.