• Russian President Vladimir Putin is set to deliver a speech on global politics and Russia’s economic situation at the St Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) and is expected to take questions, including on the war against Ukraine.
• Despite slowing growth in the fifth year of the war against Ukraine and Western sanctions, Russia is using the SPIEF as a platform to showcase economic resilience and strength.
• The SPIEF, which has attracted over 20,000 participants from more than 100 countries, got off to a rocky start after a Ukrainian drone attack triggered an alert and Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak revealed that Russia is producing less oil than planned due to unscheduled repairs.

Russian President Vladimir Putin is set to deliver a speech on global politics and Russia's economic situation to a large audience at the St Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) on Friday.

During the afternoon session, he is expected to take questions, some of which are likely to focus on his war against Ukraine.

Moscow uses the annual forum as a showcase for its economic and geopolitical ambitions.

Despite slowing growth in the fifth year of the war against Ukraine and Western sanctions, the country is seeking to project economic resilience and strength.

The event got off to a rocky start on Wednesday after a Ukrainian drone attack triggered an alert that lasted several hours.

As delegates arrived at the forum venue, black smoke could be seen rising above parts of the city.

Following increasing Ukrainian drone attacks on refineries in recent months, Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak admitted on Thursday at the forum that Russia is currently producing less oil than originally planned.

He attributed this to unscheduled repairs, without giving further details on their cause.

The forum runs until Saturday. Some 20,000 participants from more than 100 countries have registered to attend, according to the Kremlin.