Russia's St Petersburg Economic Forum, often dubbed the 'Russian Davos', has drawn a peculiar mix of American guests, including conspiracy theorists and a US official, as Moscow seeks to bolster its economy amid the ongoing war in Ukraine.
Rodney Mims Cook Jr, chairman of the US Commission of Fine Arts and a Trump appointee, is leading the US delegation. He is the first US official to attend since 2017-18 and since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Cook told Russian state media he represents the US as a minister of culture and a Christian, not a politician.
Right-wing influencer Candace Owens, known for spreading unfounded conspiracy theories, is also attending. She will speak on balancing parenthood with a career. Owens has falsely claimed French President Emmanuel Macron's wife Brigitte was born male, leading to a defamation lawsuit.
Former Hollywood actor Steven Seagal, a Russian passport holder and special representative of Russia's Foreign Ministry, is a regular attendee. He has praised Putin and supported Russia's annexation of Crimea and the war in Ukraine.
The forum comes as Russia faces economic pressures, with defence officials warning Putin that billions of extra dollars are needed to fund the conflict, according to Bloomberg News.
