The "Russia Calling!" investment forum concluded in Moscow with the participation of senior Russian officials, financiers and business representatives, as well as delegations from 33 countries, including China, India, the UAE, Iran, Turkey, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. The event was intended to demonstrate the Russian economy’s ability to attract capital and to underline the Kremlin’s declared “financial sovereignty.”
Although the forum was presented as a major international platform, the speeches by Russian leaders were mostly limited to talking points about being “fully adapted to sanctions” and moving toward “sustained growth.” These statements contrasted with the real challenges the Russian economy continues to face: stagnation trends, structural imbalances, sanctions pressure, the reorientation of resources into the military-industrial complex and the shrinking investment base.
The most noticeable sign of the lack of interest from foreign participants was that Russia did not announce the signing of a single interstate agreement following the forum. This stands in sharp contrast to the Kremlin’s stated ambitions and shows the limited real economic outcome.
The forum effectively turned into another tool of domestic political propaganda designed to create an impression of “stability” and “investment attractiveness.” At the same time, the absence of any agreements confirmed that, despite the demonstrative international presence, investors are not ready to trust the claims of the Russian authorities or expose themselves to increased political and sanctions-related risks.
