Putin Changing His Tune in St. Petersburg

KARINA ORLOVA

Unlike last year when he was all bluster, the Russian President delivered a distinctly more subdued show at this year’s St. Petersburg International Economic Forum.

Russia's annual St. Petersburg International Economic Forum ended up with an impressive financial haul—$15.3 billion in contracts, compared to just $3.6 billion last year. But more important than the investment tally was a new-look political message for the West, delivered by Russian President Vladimir Putin from the forum’s dais. 
Independent analysts in Russia mocked the annual gathering as "a masquerade ball". 

As journalist Oleg Kashin wrote in anticipation of the event, "In this role-playing game, security service veterans, the same old officials, and people whose business cards probably say 'A President’s Friend' (because there is nothing else to say about them), will be transformed into world-class businessmen." And...

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