A few days ago, another economic forum took place in St. Petersburg. This time, despite Vladimir Putin’s visit, instead of world leaders, representatives from the Taliban, among others, appeared. However, this was not what caught the attention of the entire world. The public speeches of the Kremlin leader’s two Putin’s daughters turned out to be much more interesting.
The International Economic Forum in St. Petersburg, once a major global event, has seen a decline in high-profile attendees since Russia escalated the war in Ukraine in 2022. This year’s forum saw the presence of the presidents of Zimbabwe and Bolivia, along with the Taliban, instead of leading global politicians.
A notable highlight was the participation of Vladimir Putin’s daughters, Maria and Katia, who gave statements at the forum. Interestingly, Putin referred to them as “those women” rather than his daughters, signaling a shift in his usual approach of keeping his family away from politics.
Speculation has arisen about Katia potentially becoming Putin’s successor, although it remains uncertain whether Russian society would accept a female leader. The forum’s focus has shifted towards navigating the ongoing crisis rather than attracting top global business leaders and politicians.
