Roscongress Foundation

Putin with Klaus 2003

St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) / Roscongress Foundation grew from the World Economic Forum.

St. Petersburg International Economic Forum 2025

'All of Ukraine is ours'

Vladimir Putin and OPEC Secretary General Haitham al-Ghais at SPIEF 2025

Tucker Carlson interviews Vladimir Putin June 20, 2025.

From a panel discussion at the 2025 St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) themed "Common Values – the Basis for Growth in a Multipolar World" on June 20, 2025, Vladimir Putin as discussed at Russia Today:,

Summary

Vladimir Putin discusses Russia's invasion of Ukraine, emphasizing his belief that Russians and Ukrainians are "one people," implying a historical claim over Ukraine: "I believe the Russian and Ukrainians peoples are one people. In that sense, all of Ukraine is ours." He references an old Russian saying to justify territorial advances: "You know, we have an old saying—not quite a proverb or parable, but an old rule: where the Russian soldier’s foot treads, that land is ours." Putin claims Russia respects Ukraine’s sovereignty as outlined in its 1991 Declaration of Independence, which emphasizes neutrality, but criticizes Ukraine for not adhering to this. He accuses Western leaders, specifically Boris Johnson and the Joe administration, of derailing peace talks in Istanbul, pushing Ukraine to fight rather than negotiate. Putin describes military advances as driven by tactical needs, not just political goals, and mentions the creation of a security zone in Ukraine’s Sumy region (8-12 km deep) to counter attacks on Russian border areas. He frames Ukraine’s actions, like the Kursk incursion, as militarily disastrous, leading to significant losses and stretched resources, while Russia responds to protect its borders.

Transcript

Interviewer: I cannot question what you just said. Let's consider it a fundamental position reflecting the real situation. Your army is advancing further, beyond those four eastern regions that you consider yours. What is the ultimate outcome you envision? How far can your army go?

Vladimir Putin You mentioned the regions in Ukraine that we consider ours. Yes, I’ve said many times that I believe the Russian and Ukrainian peoples are one people. In that sense, all of Ukraine is ours. But we proceed from the realities on the ground. Undoubtedly, there are many people in the neighboring country who strive to ensure their sovereignty and independence. Well, God bless them. By the way, we have never questioned the Ukrainian people's right to independence and sovereignty. However, the foundations on which Ukraine became independent and sovereign were laid out in the 1991 Declaration of Independence of Ukraine, which clearly states, in black and white, that Ukraine is a non-aligned, non-nuclear, neutral state. It would be good to return to these fundamental values on which Ukraine gained its independence and sovereignty. That’s the first point. The second is that from the very beginning, when the conflict took on such an acute, hot character, we proposed to the then-Ukrainian leadership to immediately stop all conflicts and withdraw their troops from the territories where people do not want to live in a Ukraine that experiences anti-state, unconstitutional coups. They want to live either independently or as part of the Russian state. They refused. What followed was not political decisions but the logic of military operations. Military people look at where the terrain is better—ravines, hills, rivers—where it’s best for the troops to advance to achieve the final result with minimal losses. There’s a certain logic to military operations, and the troops end up in various territories. You know, we have an old saying—not quite a proverb or parable, but an old rule: where the Russian soldier’s foot treads, that land is ours. But, you understand, I don’t want this to sound militaristic. In reality, at every stage of the events, and I want to emphasize this so you understand that what I’m saying is the absolute truth, we proposed to those we were in contact with in Ukraine to stop. We said, “Let’s negotiate now,” because the logic of purely military actions can lead to your situation worsening, and then we’ll have to negotiate with you from positions that are worse for you. This happened several times. I won’t go into details now, but the witnesses to our proposals to stop are active political figures from other countries who, thank God, are alive and well. But when we proposed something, they would leave Moscow for Kyiv, and then we were told, “We’re Kremlin agents, we’re washing our hands of this, we’re not getting involved anymore.” Every time, we heard, “No, no, no.” And we said, “Come on, it’ll be worse later.” Why? Because those who are guided by old neocolonial principles, especially in Europe, thought they could easily profit at Russia’s expense, crush it, destroy it, and gain some dividends from it. That’s why, I’m sure, former Prime Minister Mr. Johnson, with the backing of the former U.S. administration, specifically Mr. Biden, went to Ukraine and suggested not negotiating with Russia.

An agreement was already on the table during the Istanbul talks. We had practically reached a consensus on almost all issues; all that was left was to put a period on it. I was ready to meet with the acting head of the regime and finalize it. But no, Mr. Johnson had to show up, absolutely with the support of the then-Biden administration, and dissuade Ukraine from signing the agreements, pushing them to try to achieve a strategic defeat of Russia on the battlefield. And what did they achieve? More territories are now under our control, the Russian army is advancing on all fronts along the entire line of contact every day. Look at what they did—they ventured into our Kursk region. First, they lost 76,000 people there, which is a catastrophe for them, you understand, 76,000. As we said, we pushed them out. But they created a threat to us, starting to cause trouble along the entire state border with Ukraine in two other neighboring regions. What did this lead to? They already lack personnel, and now we’re forced to create a security zone along the border in many areas. They’re diverting their armed forces, which are already insufficient, to these areas, away from critical sections of the armed struggle. I’ve already said, their combat units are only 47% staffed—47%! They’re losing combat readiness. They’ve created an additional line of contact, almost 2,000 kilometers long, with their own hands. There was already a line of contact, and along the border, they started creating threats, stretching their forces over another 1,600 kilometers or so. It’s hard to imagine greater military folly. They’ve created problems for themselves, you understand, but we’re forced to respond somehow. You mentioned other territories—yes, there are some. Along the state border, they entered the Kursk region, committed a host of crimes there, crimes against the civilian population. We pushed them out with huge losses for them, and now we’re forced to create security zones along the border because they constantly attack from there with artillery and drones. What is this?

Interviewer: Please tell me, what is the extent of this security zone in the Sumy region? How deep is it?

Vladimir Putin In the Sumy region, the depth is about 8 to 12 kilometers, maybe 10 to 12 kilometers. Beyond that is the city of Sumy, the regional center. We don’t have the task of taking Sumy, but in principle, I don’t rule it out. But why are we doing this? Because they constantly create a threat to us, shelling border territories. This is the result of their, I think, absolutely illiterate, unjustified actions. The only goal was political—to show they can do something, to get more from their foreign sponsors. They’ve already received almost 250 billion dollars, but that’s not enough; they want more. And they’re stealing half of it, if not more. That’s why we’re now in these territories. This is the logic of how the confrontation is unfolding.

St. Petersburg International Economic Forum 2024

Opening Plenary Session

Featured at the Plenary Session

Aussie Cossack X Post dated June 6, 2024: "EXCLUSIVE: Russian political philosopher Aleksander Dugin admits the true role of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum is actually a tool for promoting the emerging multipolar world order. BRICS 2.0 is the future of planet earth."

The featured short video introduced Vladimir Putin's speech at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum This set the tone for the conference, which was largely about the concept of Multipolarity. Notably, Aussie Cossack released a video of Aleksandr Dugin "admitting" that "the true role of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum is actually a tool for promoting the emerging multipolar world order."

Summary

The narrator describes the history of European colonization and exploitation of other cultures over the past 500 years. It portrays this period as an era of subjugation, pillaging, and destruction of native nations, while Europe grew wealthy from the stolen resources. The author argues that the West still maintains a colonial mentality today, relying on dollar dependence and expecting other nations to follow rules they dictate. However, the narrator suggests that Russia is leading a shift towards a more just and multipolar world order. As a civilization state that has resisted Western colonization for centuries, Russia is inspiring other nations to reject colonial rule and embrace an economic system based on principles of justice. New centers of power and growth are emerging, with unique technologies and solutions that can compete globally. The narrator sees this as the foundation for a multi-polar world where all nations have an equal voice.

Transcript (Verbatim)

In the middle of the 15th century, Europe was exploring the world in different parts of the world's oceans. There were full-scale expeditions of ships. The Age of Discovery disguised the unpleasant reality that it was an era of colonization and pillaging of the world. Colonizers subjugated nations and brought destruction, but the rebirth of civilization looked like the ships returning to their motherland full of wealth. European cities were becoming wealthier, while subjugated nations lost their identity and became poor.

In the next 500 years, the European civilization robbed India, America, China, and other cultures. There were reservations created for native nations, and hundreds of thousands of people were sold into slavery. In the current conditions, the colonial march of the West did not stop. The pillaging became even more hypocritical with dollar dependence. Hundreds of years of living at the expense of others gave the Western world the mentality of a colonizer. They say that they invented the rules, and you have to follow them. They have always demanded that, but now a new time has come - the time of justice, honesty, and equality.

Russia is a civilization state, the only one in the history of humankind that managed to stand up to Western colonization in more than a thousand years of its history. Russia defended itself against attempts to invade it, defending its traditions. It is Russia, at the beginning of the 21st century, that led the fight of the nations for the New World Order. Russia refused to follow the rules invented by someone else and to play into the hands of colonizers. Russia inspired nations with the ideas of a multi-polar world during the shaping of the new world.

There is a change in the economy, with new centers of power and development. Economic colonialism is substituted with an economic order based on the principles of justice. The new points of growth that have unique technologies and solutions are prepared to compete successfully and find a new niche in the global arena. The basis for a multipolar world is shaping up.

The St. Petersburg International Economic Forum Programme for 2024:

‘the Empire Of Evil’: Has The West Successfully Demonized Russia?

From description of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum 2024 Panel Discussion: ‘the Empire Of Evil’: Has The West Successfully Demonized Russia? panel discussion:,

"Western political elites and media have spent decades cultivating a negative image of Russia. Over the past two years demonisation of Russia has reached new levels. The country is now seen as a threat to the whole of Europe. Claims that the conflict in Ukraine is just the first step have become axiomatic in Western discourse. Has the West's smear campaign succeeded? Are people in NATO countries convinced that Russia is to be feared? Is there consensus among the EU nations and the U.S.? Which trends in which countries dominate in 2024?

Moderator

• Oksana Boyko, Host, Correspondent of the Directorate of Broadcasting Programs in English, RT TV Channel

Panellists

• Alexander von Bismarck, Chairman, Bismarck Dialogue
• Karin Kneissl, Head, Center G.O.R.K.I. (Geopolitical Observatory for Russia's Key Issues) SPbU; Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Austria (2017–2019)
• Andrew P. Napolitano, Best-selling author, legal commentator, New Jersey Supreme Court Judge (1987−1995)
• Tara Reade, Writer, Publicist; assistant to the President of the United States of America Joseph Biden (1992–1993)
• Scott Ritter, UN Weapons Inspector (1991−1998)
• Jackson Hinkle, Blogger, Influencer, Political Commentator

Additional Panels

Jackson Hinkle posted on X on June 1, 2024:,

"This week, I’m honored to be traveling to Russia for the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum. I will be speaking in three panels at the forum with the following distinguished guests:

1. The Panel on Philosophy & Geopolitics of a Multipolar World will be hosted by Professor Alexander Dugin on June 6th at 17:00 MSK, and I’ll be speaking alongside Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, Xi Jinping Advisor Professor Zhang Weiwei, Nelson Mandela’s Grandson Zwelivelile Mandlesizwe Dalibhunga Mandela, Konstantin Malofeev, Larry Johnson & Pepe Escobar.

2. At the invitation of the President of the Russian Federation I will be speaking at the panel on The New Media of a Multipolar World on June 8th at 10:00AM MSK. I will be joined alongside media leaders & CEO's from around China and Russia.

3. I will also be participating in a third panel titled: Has the West Succeeded in Demonizing Russia, which will be hosted by RT on June 7th at 10:30AM MSK. I will be speaking alongside Scott Ritter, Judge Andrew Napolitano, Tara Reade and others.

Looking forward to the forum and I hope to meet many of you there!

Roscongress Foundation

Vladimir Putin created his own version of the World Economic Forum in 1997, initially referred to as the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF), and renamed to the Roscongress Foundation on December 4, 2015.

An article at Russian state propaganda outlet Sputnik dated June 3, 2017 titled "Klaus Schwab Acknowledged SPIEF Now on Par With Davos Forum - Sberbank CEO" claims that World Economic Forum leader Klaus Schwab "acknowledged that the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) has now become as well-known and prestigious as WEF":

"Klaus Schwab, the founder and executive chairman of the Davos World Economic Forum (WEF), acknowledged that the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) has now become as well-known and prestigious as WEF, Sberbank CEO German Gref said Saturday.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — The CEO of the largest Russian bank noted that a forum's success cannot be measured by the number of agreements signed at the event because a lot of work precedes any deal and a forum is only used as a platform for signing the agreement.

"The success must be measured in terms of the number of participants and the effectiveness of the negotiations held, the potential of the negotiations, the potential deals," Gref added.

'As a whole the forum, the organization of the forum is on a good level. The founder and head of the Davos World Economic Forum professor Schwab… said that if before we were transferring experience to the St. Petersburg Forum, now we can state that we are the two equal forums. It is a very high appraisal from a person who had created the largest forum in the world," Gref said.

Gref also noted the more prominent makeup of the forum participants in 2017.

"This year the interest to Russia, to the investment in Russia is obviously higher than the previous [year]," Gref noted.

According to the Sberbank CEO, the bank held a lot of events and meetings as part of the forum.

The 21st annual SPIEF is a major global platform for business representatives where crucial economic issues are discussed. SPIEF is held between Thursday and Saturday. Sputnik is an official media partner of the forum.