Context: On June 5, 2026, Vladimir Putin stated that he did not see the point in meeting with Volodymyr Zelenskyy in person yet. He made this statement on the third day of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, also known as the “Russian Davos.” The forum’s opening this year was overshadowed by a fire, as a huge plume of smoke billowed over St. Petersburg after a Ukrainian drone strike. Ukrainian officials reported that an oil terminal was on fire. Russian authorities confirmed that some facilities were damaged, though they did not specify which ones. On the final day of the forum, June 6, the attack occurred again, with plumes of smoke rising above the Kronstadt Naval Base.
On June 4, 2026, economic expert Georgy Grits spoke on Radio Minsk and drew attention to the participation of foreign countries in the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum. He mentioned that official delegations from Germany and the United States were in attendance, among others.
“Notice how many foreign delegations were present. There was even a German delegation — an official one, at that — with the approval of the Foreign Ministry, as well as an American delegation. That is, delegations from friendly countries.”
Indeed, citizens from Germany and the United States attended the forum. But they were not official representatives of their countries.
Arriving at the St. Petersburg Forum from Germany were politicians from the right-wing populist party Alternative for Germany. Deutsche Welle described them as “noted for their close ties to Russia” and as individuals who had “repeatedly interacted with Russian government structures.” However, the participants in the trip did not receive approval from the German Foreign Ministry. On the contrary, the German Foreign Ministry explicitly advised them not to participate in the forum.
In an official comment, the German Foreign Ministry stated:
“Attempts to create the appearance of normalized relations between our countries, such as participating in state-organized propaganda events, are contrary to the principles of Germany’s foreign and security policy. For this reason, the German Foreign Ministry has explicitly advised the Alternative for Germany party to refrain from such trips and has stated that the German government will not support them.”
Rodney Mims Cook Jr., chairman of the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts and overseer of the White House banquet hall construction project, and American actor Steven Seagal, who received Russian citizenship in 2016, also attended the forum. Seagal was present in a private capacity, whereas Cook attended as a U.S. official. The latter said that he had coordinated the visit with both Donald Trump and the U.S. State Department. However, this does not mean that he was given a mandate to represent the United States at the forum.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that he had no knowledge of the American delegation to the St. Petersburg Forum. During a Senate hearing on June 3, 2026, Senator Dick Durbin asked him:
“Why would the United States send an official delegation to Vladimir Putin’s ‘Russian Davos’ to talk about economic development in Russia?”
“I am not aware of the delegation that went. I am aware of the event. I know they were hosting one, but I don’t think it would have been a high-level official,” Rubio responded.
“I am not sure what level it is, but to think that we had anything official, including Steven Seagal, the actor, as one of the people representing the United States. Are you familiar with that?” Durbin continued.
“I am familiar with who he is,” Rubio replied.
“I am too,” Durbin said.
“Look, so not a government official,” Rubio added.
Thus, speaking on Radio Minsk, Georgy Grits attempted to portray the normalization of Russia’s relations with major powers. He misrepresented the visit of several foreign guests, presenting it as the arrival of official delegations from Germany and the United States. However, the authorities in both countries have not confirmed this.
