Russia Demonstrates Resilience, Ready to Overcome Difficulties: St. Petersburg International Economic Forum 2026 Kicks Off

St. Petersburg. The St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) 2026 has begun. The main theme of the forum is “Pragmatic Dialogue — The Way to a Stable Future,” with the central event set to be a plenary session featuring the participation of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

A major point of focus at this year’s forum is governance in a multipolar world. Whereas Davos might assume the current West-led globalization as the baseline and inquire how it could be better managed, SPIEF is looking to help build a new model of global development.

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the forum, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Pankin stated that Russia has demonstrated its resilience under Western sanctions and is ready to overcome any difficulties.