Rubio tells Senate hearing he has no information on US delegation to St. Petersburg economic forum

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio told a Senate hearing that he has no information about an official American delegation attending the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF). Earlier, a Putin adviser had boasted about the US delegation's arrival at the forum.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio told a Senate hearing that he has no information about official American participation in the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF). Rubio's remarks were carried in a live broadcast by the Associated Press.

Earlier, a Putin adviser had boasted about the US delegation's arrival at the forum, which drew international attention. Rubio's answer to Senate questions, however, casts doubt on claims of official US participation.

SPIEF is an annual economic forum organized by Russia in St. Petersburg, which has become a diplomatically sensitive event against the backdrop of Western sanctions. Western countries have generally refrained from high-level participation in the forum since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.