Tag

Spief

All articles tagged with #spief

world2 months ago•3 min saved

Nabiullina's sudden public silence fuels resignation speculation in Russia

Elvira Nabiullina, Russia’s central bank governor, has not appeared in public for over a week, with the Central Bank and Kremlin saying she’s ill. Her absence from key events and meetings with Putin has sparked speculation about a possible resignation or extended absence, amid talk of who could replace her and whether her term could be extended beyond 2027, in a period of debate over border controls and martial law implications.

via Meduza|

#kremlin #nabiullina #resignation-rumors

international2 months ago•13 min saved

Ukraine War Day 1,564: Russian Momentum Falters as Kyiv Strikes St. Petersburg at SPIEF

Frontline updates describe a weakening Russian campaign as Ukrainian forces repel multiple attacks across sectors, report advances near Kostyantynivka, and launch long-range strikes including a second round on St. Petersburg during SPIEF. Kyiv says strikes hit the Kronstadt Naval Base and oil depots and aim to undermine Moscow’s narrative at the forum; Russia meanwhile faces fuel shortages spreading across occupied Ukraine and neighboring regions. Overnight, Russia launched 272 drones; Ukrainian air defenses downed 249, while Ukraine attacked Russian fuel infrastructure in Krasnodar Krai and targeted major GLOC corridors, with a total of 183 combat engagements reported on the day.

via Daily Kos|

#air-defense #drones #international

economy2 months ago•1 min saved

Russia Won’t Wait for Sanctions to Lift, Pushes Domestic Growth at SPIEF

A Kremlin aide at the St. Petersburg Economic Forum said Russia should not expect sanctions relief and should shift from a defensive stance to proactive domestic development as global dynamics change irreversibly.

via Meduza|

#domestic-development #economy #maxim-oreshkin

world2 months ago•186 min saved

Celebrities and a Trump ally headline Russia’s SPIEF forum amid waning Western ties

At the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF), Trump-appointed US Commission of Fine Arts chair Rodney Mims Cook Jr. joined panels with Steven Seagal and Candace Owens. Cook claimed he had approval from Trump and the State Department, though Senator Rubio said he wasn’t aware of an official delegation. The Kremlin framed Cook as leading a rare US presence as Western participation at SPIEF dwindles and Russia leans toward East partners like Saudi Arabia and China; panels included a Russia–US cultural dialogue, with Seagal and Owens lending celebrity and partisan prominence to the event.

via CNN|

#candace-owens #rodney-mims-cook-jr #russia

world2 months ago•19 min saved

Hardline Russian Futurists Push Extreme Scenarios as Ukraine Strikes Narrow Kremlin Narrative

At SPIEF, Kremlin-linked ultranationalists Malofeev and Dugin outlined extreme “good/continuing/bad” scenarios for Russia through 2036–2050, signaling goals that may diverge from official rhetoric while battlefield realities constrain ambitions. On the same day, Ukrainian long-range strikes hit Russian assets in St. Petersburg (including the Kronstadt naval base and the St. Petersburg Oil Terminal) and other oil infrastructure; Russia launched drones/missiles in response. ISW notes no confirmed frontline advances, stagnation around Slovyansk/Lyman, potential war-crimes allegations in several sectors, and rising Russian-Belarusian military cooperation, highlighting a widening gap between hardline ultranationalist aims and current battlefield progress.

via Institute for the Study of War|

#long-range-strikes #oil-infrastructure #russia-ukraine-war

business2 months ago•5 min saved

Drones Trail Shadow Over SPIEF Opening

St. Petersburg's SPIEF opened amid black smoke from Ukrainian drone strikes on targets near the venue, drawing about 20,000 attendees from 130 countries. The forum emphasizes pragmatic dialogue and the Global South, with Putin set to speak and Saudi Arabia as guest of honor, while Western participation remains largely absent. Reports of a U.S. delegation circulated but were disputed. Ukraine claimed strikes on a Baltic Fleet warship and an oil terminal; Russia said it intercepted hundreds of drones. Attendees described a tense mood as organizers downplay the damage and stress optimism for the forum.

via The Moscow Times|

#business #drone-strikes #russia-economy

world2 months ago•2 min saved

Ex-spy at SPIEF warns Russia faces a decades-long war and new bio-threats

At SPIEF, former intelligence officer Andrey Bezrukov warned that Russia will be at war for the next few decades, calling for resilience in the state and economy while recognizing drones and biowarfare as evolving threats; Bezrukov, a Rosneft adviser and former spy whose life inspired The Americans, framed current warfare as attrition rather than rapid territorial conquests.

via Meduza|

#andrey-bezrukov #drones #geopolitics

world2 months ago•182 min saved

Ukraine targets St. Petersburg as Putin’s Davos forum opens

Ukraine launched a major drone attack on St. Petersburg as the SPIEF forum—often called Putin’s Davos—opened; Russia said air defenses intercepted more than 350 drones and reported strikes damaging infrastructure across several districts, including near the Kronstadt naval base and an oil terminal, with injuries reported. Zelensky touted long-range strikes on key targets in Russia, while the attack unfolded as the high-profile economic forum began amid broader war-related tensions and international condemnation.

via CNN|

#drones #putin #spief

international-relations2 years ago•4 min saved

"Russia's Economic Forum Highlights Isolation and Elite Ties"

The St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) has shifted focus towards Russia's partnerships with the Global South and domestic business deals amid its diplomatic and economic isolation following the 2022 invasion of Ukraine. The forum, once a major international event, now sees diminished Western participation, with notable attendees including the presidents of Bolivia and Zimbabwe and a delegation from the Taliban. The event also highlights the involvement of the children of Russia's political elite and discussions on Russia's "economic sovereignty" and "traditional values." Despite its reduced global status, SPIEF remains a key platform for Russia's political and economic elite.

via The Moscow Times|

#diplomatic-isolation #economic-forum #global-south

politics3 years ago•3 min saved

Putin's Economic Forum: Insights from a Soviet-American Moderator.

The St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) plenary session featuring Russian President Vladimir Putin was moderated by Dmitri Simes, a conservative U.S. political scientist and historian of Soviet origin, after attempts to attract marquee names from the Western media failed. The Kremlin had reportedly even considered former Fox News star Tucker Carlson for the role. Selecting a reputable foreigner as moderator is important to Putin because it gives additional legitimacy to the plenary discussion. Simes steered clear of any questions that could have challenged Putin and repeatedly voiced pro-Russian, anti-Ukrainian sentiment during the session.

via The Moscow Times|

#dmitri-simes #moderator #politics

business3 years ago•4 min saved

Russia's Economic Forum Struggles Amid Isolation and Sanctions.

The St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) opened with a lack of high-profile guests and a diminished event due to Western countries boycotting the event for a second consecutive year due to the war in Ukraine. The forum's theme is "sovereign development," a term the Kremlin uses to describe growing domestic industries and stimulating local investment. The war in Ukraine has loomed large over SPIEF as a whole, with speakers offering rewards for destroyed Western-made tanks used by Ukrainian armed forces and attempting to rally support for the Russian military.

via The Moscow Times|

#business #economy #russia