Story perspectives

Few German Firms Attend Putin-Led St. Petersburg Forum

6/6/2026

Summary

Story summary

Russian officials say German companies are returning to the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, yet only a handful of German entrepreneurs attend.
The forum opened on June 3, 2026, hosting about 20,000 participants from 130 countries while President Vladimir Putin delivered the keynote address alongside leaders from Uzbekistan, Tanzania, China and Saudi Arabia.
German entrepreneurs Thomas Bruch and Stefan Dürr attended to maintain business contacts.

History

Historical Context

After Russia annexed Crimea in 2014, the EU and the United States imposed the broadest sanctions since the Soviet era, freezing about €1.5 billion and cutting German exports to Russia by 30% in 2015. On June 3 2026, the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum opened with 20,000 participants, where German entrepreneurs Thomas Bruch and Stefan Dürr began re-engaging Russian contacts, signaling a tentative post-sanction market return.

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Story summary

Russian officials say German companies are returning to the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, yet only a handful of German entrepreneurs attend.
The forum opened on June 3, 2026, hosting about 20,000 participants from 130 countries while President Vladimir Putin delivered the keynote address alongside leaders from Uzbekistan, Tanzania, China and Saudi Arabia.
German entrepreneurs Thomas Bruch and Stefan Dürr attended to maintain business contacts.

1 / 2