Putin’s ‘Cringe’ Weekend of Humiliation
The St. Petersburg International Economic Forum was held, with many Russian pundits and journalists describing it as a 'freak show' and 'Potemkin village'. The event featured a number of controversial American guests, including conspiracy-theory blogger Candace Owens and 'influencer' Andrew Tate. The forum's American lineup was widely criticized, with many Kremlin loyalists expressing annoyance at the presence of certain guests.
- ▪The St. Petersburg International Economic Forum was attended by a number of controversial American guests, including Candace Owens and Andrew Tate.
- ▪Russian pundits and journalists widely criticized the event, describing it as a 'freak show' and 'Potemkin village'.
- ▪The forum featured a report on Russia's future development, which included a nuclear strike, the collapse of the European Union, and the total subjugation of Ukraine by 2036.
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Putin’s ‘Cringe’ Weekend of HumiliationHis effort to put on a show of strength didn’t fool anyone.Cathy YoungJun 09, 2026ShareRussian President Vladimir Putin looks on during the plenary of the Saint Petersburg International Economic Forum on June 5, 2026 in Saint Petersburg, Russia. (Photo by Contributor/Getty Images)RUSSIAN PUNDITS AND JOURNALISTS HAD CHOICE WORDS to describe the just-concluded St. Petersburg International Economic Forum: “A freak show.” “A fake.” “A Potemkin village.” For that matter, even the quasi-dissident Russian businessman Dmitry Potapenko, who still lives in Russia and was in attendance at the event, remarked in a YouTube interview that there was “more cringe” (yes, “krindzh” is now a Russian word) than usual—perhaps the perfect way to describe this year’s…
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