The St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) this year will mark a significant shift in relations between Russia and Germany. After several years of a forced pause and caution caused by the war in Ukraine, German entrepreneurs will officially participate in the event again for the first time. This decision symbolizes an attempt to maintain communication channels and readiness for a possible future ceasefire.
Business seeks new horizons
Matthias Schepp, Chairman of the Board of the Russian-German Chamber of Commerce, openly stated the need for dialogue. In his opinion, the West should not permanently give up Russia, its colossal market, and raw material resources by reorienting exclusively towards Asia. According to Schepp, contacts are vital at least in case of a possible cessation of hostilities.
The forum program includes visits by key figures of German business. Among them is entrepreneur Stefan Dürr, whose company EkoNiva is successfully developing the dairy business in Russia. The delegation will also be led by Thomas Bruch, the long-time head of the large retail chain Globus Holding. Their presence indicates that, despite political tension, economic interests continue to seek points of contact.
The contrast with the past looks dramatic. Before the start of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Germany was Russia's largest trading partner in Europe. However, the introduction of strict Western sanctions led to a sharp decline in bilateral trade volumes: last year they fell below the 10 billion euro mark.
Political challenge: AfD delegation
Special resonance was caused by the invitation to the forum of representatives of the party "Alternative for Germany" (AfD). A group of politicians will go to St. Petersburg, including Peter Bystroň, Markus Frömmayer, and Steffen Kotre. The leader of this delegation will be Jörg Urban, head of the party's Saxon branch.
Jörg Urban is known for his tough stance: he opposes military support for Ukraine and criticizes anti-Russian sanctions. In November 2025, he already visited Russia for the "BRICS — Europe" symposium, which caused a storm of criticism even within his own party. Then the chairman of the AfD threatened to expel him from the ranks of right-wing populists for violating internal discipline.
Nevertheless, before the new trip to SPIEF, Urban stated that "Saxony needs Russia as a guarantor of peace and prosperity in Europe." In early June, the politician is scheduled to take part in a discussion dedicated to "cultural diplomacy and soft power." His appearance at the forum will become not only an economic but also a political signal that there are influential forces in Germany striving to normalize relations with Moscow.