Kanye West could meet Russian President Vladimir Putin during his two-day concert in the country. Kremlin officials have said the meeting is "possible," but no concrete plans have been made.
Sold-Out Gigs in St Petersburg
Rapper Kanye West, 49, announced earlier this week he would be performing in Russia, in what is his biggest concert in years. According to local media, all tickets for the two gigs on October 10 and 11 sold out in less than an hour.
In total, over 300,000 people are expected to pack into the Gazprom Stadium to see Kanye perform — the first well-known Western singer to do so since the war against Ukraine began in 2022. Now, politicians are floating the possibility of Kanye meeting Putin while in the country.
Meeting 'Hypothetically Possible'
On Tuesday (August 18), Russian MP Svetlana Zhurova suggested that there could be a way for Putin, 73, to meet the rapper during his Ye Live Concert Tour. However, several factors would have to line up for the meeting to go ahead.
"Hypothetically, such a possibility exists," Zhurova claimed. Meanwhile, local organiser Anna Subcheva insisted that it had been Kanye's "long-standing dream" to meet Putin, adding he had "expressed great admiration for [Putin for] several years."
Zhurova added: "The main issue here is the working schedule of our president and the artist's own schedule, so that they align." She added that security would need to be drastically tightened so that the meeting could take place safely.
Controversial Return to Performing
Kanye's concerts mark the first major gigs the star is performing this year after many of his previous festival appearances were cancelled. Earlier this year, Kanye had been due to headline the Wireless Festival in London, only to have the entire festival cancelled due to public pressure.
Similarly, Kanye had been due to headline a festival in Reggio Emilia in Italy in July, along with Travis Scott. However, these ended up also being shelved due to concerns raised by the local Jewish population.
The rapper has faced several roadblocks after showing immense support and adoration for Adolf Hitler, as well as making several antisemitic remarks. Just last year, the artist released a song called Heil Hitler, which led to bans on all major streaming platforms.
West has since come out and apologised for his remarks, pinning the blame on his bipolar disorder. A spokesperson for the star also claimed at the time his decisions were the result of "poor judgment and reckless behaviour."
Demand for tickets has been immense, with all available tickets selling out in less than an hour. Tickets were on sale for up to 160,000 rubles — equal to around £1,400.
