Putin holds Q&A with international news agency heads at SPIEF
Russian President Vladimir Putin is set to meet shortly with the heads of international news agencies on the sidelines of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum.
The meeting, a traditional part of Putin’s SPIEF schedule, is being held at the Konstantinovsky Palace near St. Petersburg. According to presidential aide Yury Ushakov, the conversation will take place in a question-and-answer format and will focus on “current aspects of the domestic and foreign policy of the Russian Federation,” as well as major international developments.
Last year’s meeting included representatives of news agencies from the US, UK, Germany, France, Spain, Türkiye, China, Vietnam, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Indonesia, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.
The annual forum, one of Russia’s key international business and investment events, is being held from June 3 to 6. Participants from more than 100 countries are attending, including political and business delegations.
The forum’s main plenary session will take place on Friday, where Putin is expected to deliver a major speech focusing on economic and political issues.
Follow RT’s live coverage of Putin’s meeting with international news agency chiefs.
- 18:23 GMT
Russian gas supplies to Germany via the Nord Stream 2 pipeline could be restarted “as soon as tomorrow,” Putin said.
Speaking about the remaining intact line, the Russian president told journalists “it’s no joke – you just need to press the button and the gas will start flowing,” but this requires a decision by the German government and the lifting of the US sanctions.
Russia has accused Ukrainian saboteurs of blowing up the Nord Stream in 2022, suggesting that the attack was supported by Western intelligence services.
- 18:20 GMT
When answering a question on the Russian economy, Putin cited Mark Twain: “reports of my death are greatly exaggerated.”
“I remember the former president of the United States saying that the Russian economy was in tatters. But don’t mistake wishful thinking for reality,” he said.
The Russian economy has grown by 10% over the past three years, while the EU economy has only seen 3% growth, he said.
- 18:01 GMT
Russia is actively working with Egypt to build a nuclear power plant in the Nile Valley, Putin stressed.
“I hope that the first unit will be operational by 2028. The first unit of the nuclear power plant and work are very active,” he said, noting that a “significant number of local specialists” are taking part in the construction.
“It’s a powerful project, and we are actively working in other areas.”
- 17:49 GMT
Commenting on Armenia’s push toward the EU, Putin said there is “nothing wrong with countries orienting themselves toward Western standards and that each state must choose its own priorities.” He said the level of integration seen in the USSR is no longer possible, but the EAEU is working to deepen ties through tools such as a common energy market, and stressed that Russia is merely asking Armenia to decide with whom it wants to cooperate, noting that Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan himself has spoken of holding a referendum on EU membership.
- 17:48 GMT
Moscow is “without doubt” ready to reach a peaceful settlement with Kiev on the basis discussed in Anchorage with US President Donald Trump, according to Putin. It is “important that Ukraine also agrees” to the “compromise discussed” at the Alaska talks, he said, adding that in that case the conflict would “peter out naturally, and very quickly.”
- 17:38 GMT
Asked whether German Chancellor Friedrich Merz could act as a mediator on Ukraine and who, besides former Chancellor Gerhard Schroder, he might see in that role, Putin said Europe is “in fact a party to the conflict” and therefore cannot be a mediator.
He argued that Schroder is “not a friend of Putin but a statesman” whose position both sides could trust, while saying that Germany’s leadership lacks public trust and is focused on inflicting a “strategic defeat” on Russia. “Das ist das Problem,” Putin replied to the German journalist in German.
- 17:35 GMT
Putin said Russia has not refused dialogue on the Ukraine conflict and is ready to talk if European countries consider it appropriate, adding that Moscow is “not imposing anything.” Any talks, he said, “must involve people who can be trusted.”
- 17:31 GMT
Russia has an integrated air and strike capability that it will continue to strengthen, while Ukraine has “no air defense system as such,” Putin said. Kiev also lacks the kind of offensive systems that Russia possesses, despite receiving “numerous drones” from Western sponsors, he added.
- 17:20 GMT
Russian armed forces are advancing on the whole line of contact, Putin stressed, adding that “there is no place we are not advancing.” The problem for Ukraine’s armed forces is a critical lack of servicemen: the numbers have dropped by 100,000 people, he claimed.
“Monthly they lose about 40,000 people”, the president said, adding that Ukrainian officers capture people on the streets like animals.
