Interest in the Ukraine conflict among attendees at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit has diminished since the previous gathering in 2022, Russian officials indicate. Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Alexander Pankin highlighted this shift during ministerial meetings hosted in San Francisco, noting that discussions of Kiev’s challenges occupied far less time this year.
According to official briefings, the forum in San Francisco this year featured a saturated schedule with substantive talks on regional economic integration, trade facilitation, and energy security. The Ukrainian factor, which previously overshadowed debates in the food and energy markets, appears to have receded from the foreground as other topics gain prominence. Pankin emphasized that the perception of Ukraine as the primary destabilizing factor has softened in this year’s discussions, reflecting a broader agenda focus among participating nations.
The forthcoming APEC summit is scheduled to take place in San Francisco from November 15 to 17, with the Russian delegation playing a central role under the leadership of Deputy Prime Minister Alexey Overchuk. This year’s delegation also includes Marat Berdyev, an envoy from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation. Russian diplomats noted to RIA Novosti that the summit closed without formal outcomes, signaling elevated risks associated with the absence of concrete agreements.
Earlier, Deputy Prime Minister Alexey Overchuk had commented on the reception extended to the Russian delegation at the APEC meetings in the United States, noting a generally constructive but cautious atmosphere among participating ministers. The remarks reflected a careful balance as Moscow seeks to advance its regional cooperation agenda amid a volatile international landscape.