Russian political confidant publicly makes an appearance in Geneva, disregarding current sanctions against him
In the Swiss city of Geneva, Valentina Matviyenko, the chairwoman of Russia's upper house of parliament and a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, attended a forum as a confidante of the Kremlin. The event, held in the context of global conflicts, saw the presence of sanctioned Duma politicians Leonid Slutsky and Pyotr Tolstoy alongside Matviyenko.
Matviyenko's participation in the forum drew strong condemnation and protests from EU and Ukrainian lawmakers, who described her presence as "appeasement of the aggressor" and "disgraceful." This comes as no surprise, given Matviyenko's firm stance in support of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Matviyenko, who is 76 years old, presented herself as an ambassador of understanding and called for peace that guarantees the "security of all nations." However, her words belie her actions, as she has been a staunch supporter of the invasion ordered by Putin.
Matviyenko, who is on Western sanctions lists, defended Russia's war in Ukraine, framing it as a "forced intervention" to stop alleged Ukrainian attacks on civilians in the Donbas region. She reiterated Kremlin propaganda claims that Ukraine shelled peaceful areas and killed civilians, presenting Russia's invasion as necessary to end this violence.
In July 2025, Matviyenko spoke at an international summit in Geneva, invoking the "Alley of Angels" memorial to emphasize civilian suffering in Donbas. However, her address was met with strong criticism, with many accusing her of aligning fully with Russia's narrative and denying any responsibility of Russia for the conflict's origins.
Strategic assessments show that Matviyenko signed the document greenlighting Russia’s full-scale invasion and is considered directly involved in the political mechanisms of the war. Furthermore, Russia began its war against Ukraine under the pretext that its own security was threatened by Ukraine's ambitions to join NATO.
Despite the sanctions, Matviyenko attended the forum in Switzerland, which was covered by dpa, a news agency. The forum was also attended by German Bundestag President Julia Klöckner, who is registered for the conference and plans to arrive on Tuesday.
Matviyenko's stance remains firmly aligned with the Kremlin’s official position: denying Russian aggression, blaming Ukraine for the conflict, rejecting Western sanctions, and defending the continuation of the war under the guise of "peacekeeping" and protection of Russian-speaking populations in eastern Ukraine.
- The general-news coverage of the forum in Switzerland revealed Matviyenko, a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin and chairwoman of Russia's upper house of parliament, making political statements that defended Russia's role in Ukraine.
- Amidst the global-news context of ongoing conflicts, Matviyenko, who is subject to Western sanctions, presented her views at the forum, reiterating her support for Russia's invasion of Ukraine, a stance that aligns with the Kremlin's official position.
