Tonatiuh Icalaquianpan

'As for the death of the Russian economy, as a famous writer once said, 'The report of my death was an exaggeration.' In this case, it is the same,' Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin

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The St. Petersburg International Economic Forum is held on June 18-21. The 28th edition of the forum is themed "Shared Values: The Foundation of Growth in a Multipolar World."

Sputnik Africa is live as Russian President Vladimir Putin is taking part in the plenary session of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF).

The following high-level attendees are also taking part in the plenary session:

⇒ Indonesia's President Prabowo Subianto,
⇒ China's Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang,
⇒ South Africa's Vice President Paul Mashatile,
⇒ Bahrein's National Security Advisor and Commander of the Royal Guard Sheikh Nasser bin Hamad al Khalifa.

The Russian top official is expected to assess the state of Russia's relations with a number of key foreign partners and the international situation affecting Russia's economy, according to the Kremlin.

Putin has already touched upon global issues during SPIEF 2025. In the early hours of Thursday, he met with international news agencies' heads and addressed topics including the Middle East, NATO's military upgrades, the settlement of the Ukrainian conflict, relations with the US and other partner countries.

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RT's Igor Kourachenko interviews Captain Ibrahim Traore Burkinabe President

Burkina Faso’s President Ibrahim Traoré called for carrying forward the legacy of the anti-imperialist and anti-colonial struggle during and after World War II. Traoré is in Moscow as a guest at the 80th-anniversary parade celebrating the victory over fascism ending WWII.

'It’s not terrorism. It’s imperialism.' – Burkina Faso’s President Ibrahim Traoré slammed French media for waging an ideological war to sustain colonial domination. Propaganda, he argued, like arms, is part of the Western arsenal—used to manufacture war and justify foreign control.

Traoré points to foreign instructors, drone specialists, and explosives teams in mining zones. 'Their objective is to keep us in a state of permanent war, stop development, and continue to exploit our resources.'

His remarks come amid a regional rupture in the postcolonial order. Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger have expelled French forces, withdrawn from ECOWAS, and formed the Alliance of Sahel States, i.e., Alliance des États du Sahel, (AES)—a bloc built on military cooperation and rejection of French influence.

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