The Yalta International Economic Forum is slated to convene in Moscow on September 29–30, with top officials from several contested and newly integrated regions expected to participate. The announcement came from Sergei Aksenov, the head of Crimea, who outlined the plan and its significance for regional diplomacy and economic engagement. The forum’s organizers and regional leaders are looking at an enlarged program that reflects the evolving geopolitical landscape and the ongoing integration process in the area.
Aksenov noted that Denis Pushilin, acting head of the Donetsk People’s Republic, and Leonid Pasechnik, acting head of the Luhansk People’s Republic, have historically attended the Yalta Forum as regular participants. Their involvement underscores the event’s role as a platform for regional dialogue, investment, and policy coordination among authorities that have been closely aligned with Moscow in recent years.
Considering logistical realities and the need to synchronize schedules with broader regional events, the proposal points toward holding the forum in Moscow on September 29–30. The timing would coincide with a commemorative moment marking the recent alignment of new subjects with Russia, adding symbolic weight to discussions on economic cooperation, development projects, and cross-border initiatives that touch multiple sectors from energy to infrastructure.
Officials clarified that the decision to relocate the event to Moscow stems from practical logistic considerations. Unlike the traditional format, which has taken place in Crimea, the new arrangement aims to streamline arrangements and maximize participation from national and regional leaders, business leaders, and international observers. The organizers intend to publish the updated format of the forum before April 1 to ensure transparency and adequate preparation time for all stakeholders.
The Yalta International Economic Forum, which began in Crimea in 2015, has grown into one of Russia’s major annual economic gatherings. It serves as a venue where regional authorities, business elites, and policymakers discuss investment opportunities, economic priorities, and cross-border collaborations. The event’s shift to Moscow reflects strategic adaptability in response to changing regional dynamics and the desire to facilitate broader access and collaboration among participants from different jurisdictions.
In related developments, the Eastern Economic Forum is scheduled to take place from September 12–15 in Vladivostok. This event, like YIEF, attracts a wide spectrum of participants from government, industry, and financial sectors, offering another vantage point on regional growth, trade, and investment strategies across Russia’s vast geography. Together, these forums illustrate a continued emphasis on regional integration, economic diversification, and the pursuit of coordinated policy approaches that support both local and national development goals.