During a contentious round of talks at the economic forum in St. Petersburg, Russian President Vladimir Putin rejected the proposal for preventive nuclear strikes put forth by a radical hardliner. Putin viewed his counterpart, Ukrainian President Zelensky, as unworthy of negotiating with and accused political scientist Sergei Karaganov of provoking him with his controversial suggestions.
Karaganov’s proposal to launch a nuclear strike against Europe to assert Russia’s power was met with widespread rejection from experts who emphasized the importance of human life and the need to avoid escalating the war. Putin acknowledged the territorial gains made by Russia in the conflict and emphasized the role of peace negotiations in resolving it.
Putin questioned the legitimacy of Zelensky’s presidency, despite claiming that his term had expired according to the constitution (which was not true). Despite portraying Zelensky as an usurper, Putin expressed willingness to negotiate with Kiev through other legitimate representatives. Karaganov adopted a provocative stance and seemed to relish his role as the devil’s advocate during the discussions.
Earlier in the forum, Putin delivered a speech on Russia’s economic development alongside presidents of Bolivia and Zimbabwe. The forum highlighted how military themes intertwined with traditional values were discussed alongside economic development. Family ties were emphasized as Putin’s daughters and officials’ children participated in panels, suggesting a growing importance of personal connections in the power structure. The discussions at the forum reflected
