The economic forum in St Petersburg has for years been one of the most important meeting places between the Russian authorities and foreign investors. Although interest in the event clearly declined after the outbreak of the full-scale war in Ukraine, this year representatives of German business once again appeared at it.
In Jan Bogatka's view, this is no coincidence. The German economy has for a long time been struggling with a slowdown, high energy costs and competitiveness problems. In such conditions, some entrepreneurs are increasingly thinking about the possibility of rebuilding former trade relations with Russia.
– For many business circles in Germany, a return to cooperation with Russia remains an attractive prospect, regardless of the current political situation – the commentator pointed out.
Politicians from the Alternative for Germany (AfD) also appeared in St Petersburg. According to Bogatka, this provokes irritation in part of the German political scene, because the party is taking over topics that previously were the domain of other parties.
Only a few years ago, those regarded as advocates of normalising relations with Moscow were above all circles connected with the SPD. Today, similar demands are increasingly being formulated by the AfD as well, as it seeks to win over the electorate disillusioned with Berlin's policy to date.
In the assessment of the interviewee, the struggle is being waged not only over relations with Russia but also over voters who expect a more pragmatic approach to foreign and economic policy.
During a meeting with Western journalists, Vladimir Putin once again declared his readiness for talks with Europe and for ending the war through negotiations. At the same time, the Russian leader stressed that the mediators must be neutral.
In this context, the name of the former German chancellor Gerhard Schröder, who has for years maintained close relations with the Russian political and economic elites, once again came up.
Putin described the former head of the German government as a statesman, emphasising his critical stance on arms deliveries to Ukraine. At the same time, he argued that Germany and Europe had lost their status as neutral participants in the conflict.
Declarations of readiness for dialogue do not, however, mean a change in Russia's war aims. Putin once again stressed that Russia expects to retain control over the occupied territories of Ukraine, including the Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
The Russian leader also argued that he is ready to conclude a peace agreement if it is accepted by the Ukrainian side. At the same time, he gave no signals indicating any readiness to make concessions on the most important points of dispute.
In the opinion of observers, this means that, despite the declarations about dialogue, the positions of the two sides remain very far apart.
The return of German entrepreneurs to St Petersburg shows that some business circles are already thinking today about the future of relations with Russia. At the same time, the German government still remains one of Ukraine's most important European partners.
This means that Berlin finds itself caught between political support for Kyiv and the interests of part of its own economy. In the coming months, it is precisely this dilemma that may become one of the most important topics of German public debate.
For Russia, the signals coming from Germany remain particularly important. Moscow has for years regarded the Federal Republic as a key economic partner in Europe and counts on being able to rebuild part of its former relations once the war is over.
