Kapal Api Group Indonesia Open 2023 - Anthony Ginting dan Pramudya Kusumawardana/Yeremia Rambita Ke Semifinal

Pramudya/Yeremia lolos ke semifinal Indonesia Open 2023 dengan dramatis. (Arsip PBSI)

Hasil lengkap wakil Indonesia di perempatfinal Indonesia Open 2023, pada hari Jumat, 16/06/2023, 7 wakil Indonesia yang berlaga, 2 yang lolos ke semifinal. Tunggal putra Anthony Ginting dan ganda putra Pramudya Kusumawardana/Yeremia Rambitan menjadi dua perwakilan Indonesia yang sukses melaju ke semifinal.

Keberhasilan Anthony Sinisuka Ginting dan Pramudya Kusumawardana/Yeremia Erich Yoche Yacob Rambitan sekaligus menjaga asa tim bulu tangkis Indonesia untuk meraih kejayaan di rumah sendiri.

Ada tujuh perwakilan Indonesia yang tampil di perempatfinal Indonesia Open 2023. Namun, setidaknya satu tiket ke semifinal digaransi karena sesama wakil Indonesia bersua di nomor tunggal putra, yaitu Anthony Ginting dan Jonatan Christie.

Laga duo tunggal putra terbaik Indonesia tersebut berlangsung sengit meski hanya dalam dua set. Baik Ginting maupun Jonatan bergantian memimpin. Namun, pada akhirnya Anthony Ginting sukses menang dengan skor 21-19 dan 21-16.

Itu menjadi salah satunya memberikan hasil positif. Sebab, lima perwakilan lainnya menderita kekalahan di pertandingannya masing-masing.

Di nomor ganda campuran, Rinov Rivaldy/Pitha Haningtyas tumbang dari unggulan kedua Yuta Watanabe/Arisa Higashino dengan skor 11-21 dan 18-21. Selagi Fajar Alfian/Rian Ardianto ditaklukkan Satwiksairaj Rankireddy/Chirag Shetty dengan skor 13-21 dan 13-21.

Ganda putri, Apriyani Rahayu/Siti Fadia juga mengalami hal serupa ketika bersua wakil Jepang, Yuki Fukushima/Sayaka Hirota. Mereka juga tumbang dalam dua set langsung dengan skor 13-21 dan 13-21.

Sektor ganda putra Leo Rolly/Daniel Marthin kemudian kalah dari Kang Min Hyuk/Seo Seung Jae dengan skor 14-21 dan 10-21.

Namun, malam ditutup dengan manis berkat kemenangan Pramudya Kusumawardana/Yeremia Rambitan atas Liang Wei Keng/Wang Chang dengan skor 16-21, 21-17, dan 21-19.

Pram/Yere berhak melaju ke semifinal Indonesia Open 2023 seusai menang dramatis atas wakil China, Liang Wei Keng/Wang Chang.

Mereka mampu meraih kemenangan lewat rubber set setelah sempat tertinggal pada gim pertama dan pengujung set ketiga.

Pram/Yere menang dengan skor 16-21, 21-17, dan 21-19 dalam durasi 60 menit.

Perjuangan keras Pram/Yere untuk bangkit dan meraih kemenangan mampu berbuah tiket semifinal Indonesia Open 2023.

Dengan demikian, Pram/Yere menjadi wakil kedua asal Indonesia yang berhasil menembus semifinal turnamen BWF World Tour Super 1.000 tersebut.

Leo Rolly Carnando/Daniel Marthin gagal ke semifinal Indonesia Open 2023 usai kalah dari Kang Min Hyuk/Seo Seung Jae di Istora Senayan, hari Jumat, 16/06/2023.

Leo/Daniel kalah dengan straight set, 14-21, 10-21. Leo/Daniel sempat unggul 2-0 pada awal set pertama. Akan tetapi setelah skor imbang 3-3, Leo/Daniel makin tertinggal dari Kang/Seo.

Lima angka berturut-turut yang didapat Kang/seo membuat mereka unggul 11-14 pada interval set pertama.

Pundi-pundu poin Kang/Seo bertambah hingga unggul 14-6. Leo/Daniel memberikan perlawanan dengan mendapatkan enam poin beruntun guna mendekat hingga 12-14.

Placing yang gagal dari Leo membuat Kang/Seo unggul jauh 18-13. Leo/Daniel terlihat banyak kehilangan fokus pada gim pertama ini. Sementara Kang/Seo bermain dengan minim kesalahan.

Serangan berubi-tubi Kang/Seo ke arah Leo membuat pasangan Korea Selatan tersebut meraih game point 20-14. Placing apik Seo Seung Jae ke sisi belakang membawa mereka unggul 21-14 pada gim pertama.

Dominasi Kang/Seo makin kentara di gim kedua. Pasangan berperingkat 12 dunia tersebut tanpa kesulitan meraih poin.

Setelah unggul 4-0, Kang/Seo meraih lima poin tambahan jadi 9-0. Kang/Seo tidak memberikan kesempatan kepada Leo/Daniel mendapatkan poin usai unggul 11-0 pada interval gim kedua.

Leo/Daniel berhasil memutus 12 poin beruntun yang didapat Kang/Seo. Tertinggal jauh memberikan beban besar kepada The Babies.

Saat berupaya mengejar, Leo mebuang kesempatan menambah poin setelah servisnya gagal. Kang/Seo juga pintar dalam membaca servis Leo/Daniel.

Leo yang memaksakan mengambil kok gagal, Kang/Seo meraih match point 20-10. Placing Seo Seung Jae tidak bisa diantisipasi Leo/Daniel. Kang/Seo lolos ke semifinal Indonesia Open 2023.

Nomor ganda putri, Apriyani/Fadia mampu memberikan perlawanan sengit pada Fukushima/Hirota di awal pertandingan. Mereka saling kejar mengejar angka hingga mencapai skor 6-6.

Sayangnya, setelah itu performa pasangan Merah-Putih menurun drastis. Pertahanan mereka mudah sekali dijebol oleh serangan lawan sehingga tertinggal 6-11 di interval set pertama.

Usai rehat, permainan Apriyani/Fadia masih belum membaik. Mereka kesulitan untuk keluar dari tekanan lawan yang duduk di ranking 10 dunia itu, yang bermain sangat menyerang. Alhasil, duet Pelatnas PBSI itu ketinggalan jauh 9-16.

Fukushima/Hirota pun semakin mendominasi di poin-poin kritis. Hasilnya, mereka sukses menutup set pertama dengan kemenangan 13-21.

Pada set kedua, pertandingan berjalan sangat alot. Prifad bermain lebih baik dan bisa mengimbangi permainan lawan. Alhasil, skor imbang terus terjadi sejak awal di angka 2-2 hingga 9-9. Namun, Fukushima/Hirota lagi-lagi bisa menjauh saat interval dengan keunggulan 9-11.

Selepas jeda, Apriyani/Fadia banyak melakukan kesalahan dan kembali terbawa dengan permainan lawan. Mereka pun tertinggal jauh lagi dalam kedudukan 10-16.

Prifad terus keteteran menghadapi variasi serangan yang dilancarkan oleh Fukushima/Hirota. Alhasil, mereka kembali takluk di set kedua dengan skor 13-21.

Rekap Hasil Babak Perempatfinal Kapal Api Group Indonesia Open 2023

Russia always retaliates after Ukrainian strikes — Putin

©Sergey Bobylev/TASS

Russia always responds militarily to Ukrainian strikes, but it seldom presents its retaliation as breaking news, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on the sidelines of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) on Friday.

"We hit military targets with high-accuracy long-range and high-yield weapons and succeed in this respect. It's enough to see arms depots, warehouses and barracks housing personnel, including foreign mercenaries destroyed.... There always follows a retaliation. We just avoid presenting it as breaking news very often, but this retaliation is sensitive and the enemy knows this," Putin said.

Kiev must understand that in case of continued attacks on Russian territory, Moscow will consider creating a "sanitary cordon" in Ukraine, he warned.

"If these attacks on our adjacent territories continue, we will consider creating a 'sanitary cordon' on Ukrainian territory. They just have to realize where they are heading for," he said.

The St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF), the largest annual economic and business event in Russia, is running on June 14-17. The theme of this year's forum is "Sovereign Development as a Basis for a Just World: Joining Forces for Future Generations". The event is organized by the Roscongress Foundation. TASS is its official media partner.

Ukrainian counteroffensive yielding heavy losses – and no gains

Russia’s president provided an update on the ongoing long-heralded Ukrainian counteroffensive, which began tentatively in early June. To date, Kiev’s forces have lost some 186 tanks and 418 armored vehicles of other types, according to Putin.

“Their losses are very heavy – about more than one in ten compared to the Russian army. That is a fact. In terms of hardware, the loss of this equipment is growing every day,” he said, adding that Kiev has thus far failed to achieve its goals, wasting its strategic reserves in the push against Russia’s forces.

Western military aid will not help Ukraine

The intensified military action has caused a rapid depletion of Ukraine’s own war materiel stockpile, Putin said, predicting that the country’s armed forces are set to become entirely dependent on foreign aid in the nearest future.“Well, you won’t be able to wage war for long like that. Our defense industry, however, is growing day by day,” he said.

Any weaponry Kiev receives from the collective West will end up destroyed, Putin warned. “Tanks are burning. Among them are the Leopards. They burn. So will the F-16s. There is no doubt,” the president stated, referring to the potential deliveries of advanced US-made aircraft long-sought by Kiev.

NATO involvement in the conflict is deepening

The potential delivery of F-16 fighter jets would get the US-led NATO bloc even more deeply involved into the conflict, Putin said. Moreover, the aircraft may end up stationed abroad, while only operating in Ukraine’s airspace during combat sorties.

In such an event, “we will need to look at how and where we can hit those assets used in combat operations against us,” Putin said. “This is a serious danger of further dragging NATO into this armed conflict.”

West will want to talk to Russia on security guarantees

Moscow has never refused to engage in dialogue with the collective West, coming up with a comprehensive security deal proposal shortly before the ongoing hostilities started, Putin said. The West, however, rejected the dialogue – but it will ultimately be forced to abandon its confrontational stance.

“Regarding whether it is needed to conduct a dialogue with them or not, I repeat once again, we did not reject this dialogue,” Putin said. “It was them who decided to sever this dialogue with us. Well, they don’t want to talk… whatever. They will.”

Russian stance on nuclear weapons use explained

Russia’s president also cautioned against normalizing talk of nuclear weapons use, warning that “the very fact of discussing this topic already lowers the threshold for their use.” At the same time, Putin rejected the idea of engaging in any nuclear disarmament talks with the West.

“We possess more weaponry of such sort than the NATO countries. They know that and are always trying to persuade us to start negotiations on reduction. ‘Nuts’ to them, you know, as our people say,” he said.

South Africa calls out Reuters’ air-raid ‘misinformation

South African presidential spokesman Vincent Magwenya has accused Reuters of peddling lies, after the news agency claimed that a Russian missile strike sent his delegation running for a bunker in Kiev. It was not the first time Ukrainian authorities sounded air raid sirens when foreign leaders arrived in the city.

Magwenya arrived in Kiev on Friday with President Cyril Ramaphosa, who along with five other African leaders met with Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky to promote a negotiated end to the conflict with Russia. According to Reuters, air raid sirens and explosions were heard in the city, and the group was whisked to a shelter underneath a hotel.

Ukrainian officials seized on the opportunity to accuse Russia of undermining the peace mission. “Russian missiles are a message to Africa: Russia wants more war, not peace,” Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmitry Kuleba wrote on Twitter. “Whenever a high-ranking foreign delegation visits Ukraine, Russia greets it with a missile attack on our peaceful cities,” said Andrey Yermak, head of the Ukrainian presidential staff.

However, no sirens or explosions were actually heard, Magwenya said. “We didn't hear any explosions,” he tweeted. “Instead, we saw people going on about their day leisurely. Everything seems normal from what we have experienced thus far.”

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa (L) and other delegates travel on a train towards Kiev from Warsaw, Poland, June 15, 2023 ©AP

“It's very strange that we didn't hear or see an explosion. There's obviously some deliberate misinformation being spread here,” he told South Africa’s News24 outlet. “As we expected this mission was never going to be easy but some of the hurdles are deeply disturbing, like... this so-called explosion."

One day earlier, a plane carrying Ramaphosa’s security detail and a number of journalists was held at Warsaw’s Chopin Airport in Poland, with Polish authorities demanding the security personnel surrender their weapons. After a 26-hour standoff, passengers were finally allowed to disembark on Friday afternoon.

Throughout its military operation in Ukraine, Russia has attacked military and infrastructure targets around Kiev with missiles and drones. However, air raid sirens have also been turned on almost every time a high-profile Western leader visits Zelensky in the city, even at times when no missile strikes were taking place.

When sirens blared as US President Joe Biden arrived in Kiev in February, CNN reporter Alex Marquardt noted that no alarms had gone off for five days beforehand, with the alert only triggered when cameras were on Biden and Zelensky.

Russia is capable of destroying any building in downtown Kiev but sees no reason to do that, President Vladimir Putin said on Friday in the question and answer portion of the plenary session of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF)."> Russia is capable of destroying any building in downtown Kiev but sees no reason to do that, President Vladimir Putin said on Friday in the question and answer portion of the plenary session of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF)."> Russia is capable of destroying any building in downtown Kiev but sees no reason to do that, President Vladimir Putin said on Friday in the question and answer portion of the plenary session of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF). ">

IN BRIEF: Zelensky ‘a disgrace to the Jewish people,’ future of F-16s: Putin’s SPIEF Q&A

©Sergey Bobylev/TASS

Russia is capable of destroying any building in downtown Kiev but sees no reason to do that, President Vladimir Putin said on Friday in the question and answer portion of the plenary session of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF).

The head of state noted that his Jewish friends viewed Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky as "a disgrace to the Jewish people." He pointed to the failure of Ukraine’s counteroffensive and predicted that F-16 aircraft would end up burning like Leopard tanks.

On Ukrainian counteroffensive

The losses that Kiev is facing during its so-called counteroffensive are ten times greater than Moscow’s. The Ukrainian armed forces have already lost 186 tanks and 418 armored vehicles.

"The main thing is that [Kiev has achieved] no success in any area."

On future of F-16 jets

The F-16 fighter jets that the West may send to Ukraine will face the same fate as the tanks that were provided to the country. "The tanks are burning,... including Leopards.... F-16s will burn in the same way, there is no doubt about it."

"If they are deployed to air bases beyond Ukraine but get involved in military activities, we will have to figure out where and how we can hit the equipment that is being used against us in combat. This creates a serious risk of NATO being dragged further into the armed conflict."

On "buffer zone'

By trying to attack the Kremlin and the Belgorod Region, Kiev is provoking Russia to take "serious and strong retaliatory measures."

Russia can destroy any target in Kiev but sees no need to do so: "We destroyed five Patriot systems outside Kiev, so we would not have any problem wiping out any building in downtown Kiev.... We have the opportunity... but don’t have the need to do so."

If attacks on Russia’s border regions continue, Moscow would consider the possibility of creating "a buffer zone" in Ukraine.

On West’s role in Ukraine

The West seeks "to shift the responsibility" by accusing Russia of unleashing the conflict in Ukraine. "However, we are well aware of how it all began."

Moscow was forced to use the army to help Donbass "in a bid to end this armed conflict." Today, Western countries are doing "their best" to make Russia suffer a strategic defeat on the battlefield, while NATO "is being dragged into the war in Ukraine."

On nuclear weapons

Russia will not hold talks on nuclear arms reduction with the West: "No way!"

Russia has no need to use nuclear weapons but "in theory, it’s definitely possible" to use them: "It would be possible if there is a threat to our territorial integrity, independence and sovereignty, as well as to the existence of the Russian state."

The first batch of tactical nuclear warheads has already been delivered to Belarus. "We will fully complete this work by the end of the year."

On "margin of safety"

Unlike Ukraine, which will soon run out of military equipment, Russia is only increasing defense industry production. "Our defense industry is gaining momentum day by day." "This suggests that we have a great margin of safety."

On communication with US

"There is almost no communication" between Russia and the US but Moscow does not reject communication: "If anyone wishes to build dialogue with us, they are welcome."

"[US] President Biden is a grown man and an experienced politician. Who am I to teach him? Let him do as he sees fit. As for us, we will do what we believe is in line with the interests of Russia and the Russian people. Everyone will have to reckon with this."

On situation on oil market

OPEC+ decisions on reducing oil output aren’t politically motivated and have nothing to do with Russia’s special military operation: "They stem from economic feasibility both for producers and consumers. All in all, we have been able to balance the market through joint efforts."

The Russian oil price cap has negative consequences, particularly for Moscow, but on the whole, Russia is satisfied with the current oil prices, while discounts are minimal on certain markets.

On Zelensky

"Since I was a child, I have always had many Jewish friends. They say that Zelensky is not Jewish, but a disgrace to the Jewish people."

Putin: Kiev Has Lost 186 Tanks, 418 Armored Vehicles, Losses Mounting

Ukrainian forces launched a long-awaited counteroffensive earlier this month after stocking up on NATO weapons, including Leopard heavy tanks and Bradley fighting vehicles. The offensive has stalled after running into well-prepared Russian defensive lines, with even Kiev's Western backers expressing concerns about Ukraine's heavy losses.

Ukraine has failed to reach any strategic objectives amid its ongoing counteroffensive, losing 186 tanks and 418 armored vehicles to date as losses continue to mount, Russian President Vladimir Putin has said.

"In some places Ukrainian forces manage to reach the first line of defense, in some places not. That's not the question," Putin said, speaking to reporters during the plenary session of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum on Friday.

"The question revolves around the fact that they are using their so-called strategic reserves, which consist of several components. The first is meant to be used to break [Russian] defenses, the second to use forces to entrench their foothold over territory. They have not reached their goals at a single section of the front. This is what is important," he said.

"Their losses are indeed very large, even more than ten to one compared to the Russian army. This is a fact. In terms of equipment, losses are mounting daily. As of today, this includes 186 tanks lost and 418 armored vehicles of various classes," Putin said.

Russia's defense enterprises are working round-the-clock to supply the military with weapons, working double or even triple shifts, Putin said. "We have increased the output of military production by 2.7 times, and when it comes to the most needed equipment - by 10 times."

As for Ukrainian forces, Putin predicted that "soon they will stop using its own equipment" entirely because it's being systematically destroyed. "Everything they're using to do battle, and everything they're using is coming from abroad. One can't fight that way for long," he said.

Origins of Conflict

Putin also once again took the opportunity to delve into the root causes of the present crisis, saying "the war in Ukraine, in southeastern Ukraine, was started by the Kiev regime with the support of their Western sponsors in 2014. But everyone in the West tries not to speak about this. I am forced to remind them that aviation, tanks, artillery were used used against the Donbass [back then]. What is this if not a war?"

Kiev "refused" to entertain an end to the Donbass crisis using peaceful means, Putin said, "forcing us to use our armed forces to attempt to put an end to this war."

It wasn't Russia that led its Western partners "by the nose" between 2015 and 2022 by signing the Minsk peace deal for Donbass, "without any plans to implement it, as they publicly admitted recently," he added, referring to recent revelations by the former Ukrainian, German and French leaders that they only signed the Minsk deal to give Kiev time to rearm and prepare for war with Russia.

Ten Ukrainian assaults repelled in single day – Moscow

A Russian servicemen of a mobile anti-aircraft unit sits by a DShK machine gun loaded on a UAZ truck as he is on combat duty for repelling attacks of Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles. © Sputnik / Konstantin Mihalchevskiy

Ukraine has lost hundreds of troops in a series of unsuccessful attacks on two sections of the front line in the last 24 hours, the Russian Defense Ministry claimed on Friday.

In a statement, the ministry said Kiev’s forces had gone on the offensive in two directions, with battles taking place near the so-called Vremevsky ledge in the southern section of the front, and west of the Russian city of Donetsk.

In the first area, the most intense fighting took place near the settlements of Rovnopol and Urozhaynoye, with Russian troops repelling five Ukrainian attacks. As a result, Kiev lost more than 200 service members, five tanks, seven armored personnel vehicles, and other hardware, according to officials in Moscow.

Russian troops repelled another five attacks near the settlements of Pervomayskoye, Petrovskoye and Staromichailovka, all located west and north-west of Donetsk, the ministry added. It estimated Ukrainian losses in the area at up to 215 service members, three armored and five other vehicles, as well as two artillery pieces.

Ukraine launched a large-scale counteroffensive on June 4, after the West and Kiev had talked up the operation for several months. According to Moscow, the attacks have thus far failed to gain any ground and have resulted in considerable losses for Ukraine. Russian President Vladimir Putin has claimed Kiev’s forces are “taking heavy casualties” which outnumber Russia’s by a factor of ten.

Commenting on the counteroffensive, Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky admitted on Thursday that Russian troops were putting up “very tough resistance.” His remarks tallied with an earlier CNN report, which cited two senior US officials as saying that Ukraine has encountered heavier pushback than expected from Moscow’s forces.

10,000+ Russian troops paid bonuses for destroying enemy hardware – MOD

More than 10,000 Russian troops have received bonuses for destroying or capturing major enemy weapon systems during the military operation against Ukraine, the Defense Ministry has revealed.

Russian soldiers have been paid between 50,000 and 300,000 rubles ($600 and $3,600) for personally taking out a tank, an artillery gun, a fighter jet, or other piece of military equipment, according to the statistics.

In 2022, 7,064 servicemen merited such remuneration for destroying a total of 11,586 pieces of Ukrainian military equipment. In the first five months of this year, the figures were 3,193 and 4,415, respectively, the ministry said.

The biggest payoffs went to airmen and air defense operators for shooting down enemy jets and helicopters, and to soldiers for destroying Tochka-U and HIMARS rocket launchers. Ukrainian naval drones, which have been used for attacks on Crimea, were valued by the military leadership at $2,400 apiece.

Half of that amount was paid out “for destroying each of the many hundreds of armor” belonging to Ukrainian forces, the statement said. The smallest bonuses were awarded for intercepting enemy rockets and some drones, as well as for taking out armored vehicles and artillery pieces.

The ministry is reviewing reports from the battlefield to decide on bonuses for destroying Leopard tanks and other NATO-produced hardware, it said. Kiev’s foreign backers have supplied dozens of pieces of such equipment in an attempt to strengthen Ukraine’s army ahead of its long-promised counteroffensive, which is now underway.

Some private Russian citizens have also offered bounties to frontline troops. In one recent example, entertainer Grigory Leps said he and several other like-minded people were pooling resources to pay out 1 million rubles ($13,000) for each Western tank destroyed by Russian soldiers.

WATCH: Russian Troops Make Ukraine's 'Superior Forces' Run For Their Lives

During the ongoing Kiev counteroffensive, the Russian Army has been crushing the enemy on land and in the air.

Russia's Defense Ministry has published footage showing a group of Russian servicemen forcing the superior forces of Ukrainian troops to flee in the direction of Avdeevka.

"The fighting spirit of the enemy is very weak at the moment. The enemy flees when there is serious fighting and does not really cling to its positions. They leave their fortifications and run away," an officer of the Yug Russian military group said.

According to the officer, during one of the attacks, an enemy squad ran away from his group twice.

Kiev Loses Over 400 Military in 2 Directions Over Past Day - Russian MoD

Ukraine has lost more than 400 military in the South Donetsk and Donetsk directions over the past day as a result of unsuccessful offensive attempts, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Friday.

"More than 200 Ukrainian military, five tanks, seven infantry fighting vehicles, five armored fighting vehicles, four vehicles, and two mortar batteries were destroyed [in the South Donetsk direction] over the past day," the ministry said.

In the Donetsk direction, Russian troops repulsed five enemy attacks, the ministry said.

"During the fighting, up to 215 Ukrainian military, three armored combat vehicles, five vehicles, and two D-20 howitzers were destroyed," the statement read.

Over the past day, Ukrainian troops continued to suffer significant losses in the course of unsuccessful attempts to conduct offensive operations in these areas, the ministry said in a statement, adding that near the Vremevka ledge, Russia repelled five attacks.

Day Three of St Petersburg International Economic Forum

The St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) is an annual event that brings together political leaders, business executives, and experts from around the world to discuss and address key economic issues. This year, the forum is held between 14 and 17 June.

On the third day of SPIEF Russian President Vladimir Putin will attend the forum, which this year is being held under the theme "Sovereign Development - the Basis for a Just World. Let us unite our efforts for the sake of future generations". The head of state will traditionally make a keynote speech at the plenary session of the forum.

High-ranking representatives from Algeria, India, Qatar, Pakistan, Venezuela, Hungary, Myanmar, Nicaragua and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) will also be present at the event. At this year's forum, the UAE enjoys the privileged "guest country" status, with Minister of Economy Abdulla Bin Touq Al Marri leading the country's delegation.

Putin Addresses SPIEF 2023 Plenary Session

The St Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) is running from 14 to 17 June at the ExpoForum Convention and Exhibition Center.

Sputnik comes live as Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Algerian counterpart Abdelmadjid Tebboune address the plenary session of the 26th St Petersburg International Economic Forum. In his speech, Putin will give a detailed assessment of the Russian economy and outline its main prospects.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov earlier told reporters that the plenary session in which Putin was taking part would last about two hours.

'Multipolar World Order Strengthening, This is Inevitable Process' - Putin

The escalation of the Ukrainian crisis into a full-blown NATO-Russia proxy war last year served to accelerate the creation of an alternative to the US and Western-led global order.

The emerging multipolar world order is strengthening, and Russia's adversaries have failed utterly in their push to isolate the country from the international economy, President Vladimir Putin has said.

"Objective market laws work stronger than the current political conjecture. This shows that the ugly neocolonial international system, which is ugly in its essence, has ceased to exist, while the multipolar world order is strengthening. This is an inevitable process," Putin said in a plenary address at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum on Friday.

UAE Hopes to Welcome 1Mln Russian Tourists This Year - President

President of the United Arab Emirates Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan said on Friday that this year his country hopes to host 1 million Russian tourists.

"I believe that cooperation between the private sectors of the two countries plays a big role in the development of our bilateral relations. For example, bilateral tourism is developing greatly. We hope to welcome 1 million Russian tourists this year," Al Nahyan said at talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF).

Putin Expects Russia's GDP to Grow by About 1.5-2% by Year End

Russia's GDP growth by the end of 2023 may be about 2%, and in April it increased by 3.3%, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Friday.

"I agree with those of our experts who believe that the growth [of GDP] will still be up to 1.5%, and maybe more — under 2%. This will help our country to keep its place among the leading economies of the world," Putin said during his address at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF).

Putin: Russia Must Increase Defense Spending to Ensure Country's Security

Russia must to increase spending on strengthening the defense and security of the country, this must be done to protect sovereignty, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Friday.

"Naturally, additional funds were needed to strengthen defense and security, and to purchase weapons. We must do this to protect the sovereignty of our country. I must say that in general, and it justifies itself, including from an economic point of view," Putin said during his address at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF).

Inflation in Russia Lower Than in Many Western Countries and Close to Historical Low of 2.9% - Putin

Inflation in Russia is now lower than in many Western countries and is close to its historical low, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Friday, adding that it amounts to 2.9%.

"We have maintained a responsible, balanced budgetary and monetary policy. Their effective combination made it possible to reach the minimum figures of unemployment, as well as inflation, which is now lower in Russia than in many Western countries — both in the eurozone and in other regions — and is close to the historical minimum, is 2.9%," Putin said during his address at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF).

Putin to Address Special Operation, Its Effect on Economy at SPIEF - Kremlin

Russian President Vladimir Putin is still open to any contacts to discuss options Ukrainian settlement, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Friday.

"President Putin was, is and remains open to any contacts in order to discuss possible options for solving the Ukrainian problem," Peskov told reporters on the sidelines of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF). The Ukrainian problem can be solved in many ways, the official said, adding that the Russian leader supports any set of ideas to end the conflict.

A look behind the scenes of #SPIEF2023 with Sputnik: Reporters await Vladimir Putin’s speech at press room pic.twitter.com/bPnq6SsziE

— Sputnik (@SputnikInt) June 16, 2023

Caucasian power: Chechnya’s might stands strong at #SPIEF2023 pic.twitter.com/30DSKgGcuq

— Sputnik (@SputnikInt) June 16, 2023

Russia Not in Economic Isolation, No Vacuum Possible in Economic Affairs - Kremlin

Russia is not in economic isolation, there can be no vacuum in economic relations because when some directions are closed, others open, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Friday.

"[Russia] is certainly not in isolation. There can be no vacuum in economic affairs. If some directions are closed, then other directions automatically open and become more profitable and more profitable," Peskov said.

Russian, UAE Heads to Meet in St. Petersburg Ahead of SPIEF Plenary Session - Kremlin

UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan will arrive in St. Petersburg on Friday and hold a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin ahead of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF), Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov said.

"On June 16, UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan will arrive in St. Petersburg. In the morning of June 16, he will hold a meeting with president Putin, during which they will consider issues related to the work of the forum, and, of course, issues of the development of bilateral relations will be discussed in general terms. Also, of course, topical international and regional problems will be discussed," Ushakov told reporters.

The talks between the leaders will take place "immediately before the [SPIEF] plenary session," the official said, adding that the presidents "developed trusting, constructive relationships."