The St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, an important event for Russia’s development and investment opportunities, has banned journalists from countries that Russia regards as unfriendly. This decision by Russian President Vladimir Putin’s spokesperson highlights the growing hostility between Russia and countries that have imposed sanctions related to the conflict in Ukraine or have criticized Moscow. Dmitry Peskov confirmed that media outlets from unfriendly countries will not be accredited to report on the forum. Russia considers several nations, including the United States, Canada, EU members, and Australia, as unfriendly because of the sanctions they have imposed. Putin has previously used the forum to interact with international news executives and discuss various topics.