Russia is not on ‘self-isolation path’, says Putin

Russian president Vladimir Putin gestures while speaking at a plenary session of the St Petersburg International Economic Forum (Alexei Danichev/Photo host Agency RIA Novosti via AP)

President Vladimir Putin has talked up Russia’s prospects at the country’s main international economic forum despite heavy international sanctions imposed because of the war in Ukraine.

Western officials and investors steered clear of this year’s St Petersburg International Economic Forum that for decades has been Russia’s premier event for attracting foreign capital and is sometimes likened to the Davos World Economic Forum.