On the sidelines of SPIEF 2026, I held a meeting with a group of European Parliamentarians led by Fernand Kartheiser (Luxembourg), who arrived in Russia through interparliamentary contacts with the State Duma Committee on International Affairs. The conversation was substantive and constructive, covering global issues, including the crisis in Russia-EU relations, the Ukrainian settlement, and the escalation in the Middle East.
Further developing this dialogue, Fernand Kartheiser and I signed the St. Petersburg Declaration, which speaks of the power of parliamentary diplomacy and the need to reject confrontation. The document also reaffirms our commitment to deepening cooperation between the State Duma Committee on International Affairs and members of the European Parliament, despite obstacles from EU institutions.
This was already the ninth meeting with members of the European Parliament – sensible, courageous, and bold politicians who recognize the absurdity of the “Russian threat” hyped by the European elites and the danger of unleashing a large-scale military confrontation. The powerful speeches of Fernand Kartheiser and Diana Șoșoacă (Romania) on the sidelines of the SPIEF and the plenary session with Russian President Vladimir Putin have already become part of the forum’s history, completely debunking Western myths about Russia’s isolation.
I am confident that we will soon hold new talks and continue contacts in the name of peace, stability, and security on our shared European continent.
