Federation Council Speaker Valentina Matviyenko led the Russian parliamentary delegation at the World Conference of Speakers of Parliaments in Geneva, held from July 29 to 31. The visit, which also included participation in the Summit of Women Speakers of Parliament, marked the first trip to Europe by such high-ranking Russian officials since the start of the full-scale war against Ukraine.
The delegation also included Konstantin Kosachev, Pyotr Tolstoy, Leonid Slutsky, Lilia Gumerova, and Andrey Denisov—all of whom, including Matviyenko, are under Western sanctions. Nevertheless, Switzerland allowed their entry, citing its obligations to ensure the participation of all delegates in events held under the auspices of international organizations. To circumvent EU airspace closures, the Russian government aircraft reached Geneva via Turkey and the Mediterranean—airspace was granted by Italy.
Matviyenko used her address at the conference to deliver core Russian propaganda talking points, calling the invasion "a forced measure" and accusing Ukraine of "shelling peaceful regions of Donbas." She also criticized the West’s "anti-Russian rhetoric," urged the lifting of sanctions, and claimed that Russia supposedly seeks peace.
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The speech drew a sharp response from Ukraine. Ukrainian Foreign Ministry representative Heorhii Tykhyi called Matviyenko’s presence at the conference "a disgrace" and said she belonged "in the defendant’s chair." Deputy Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada Olena Kondratiuk described the admission of the Russian delegation as "hypocrisy" and "appeasement of the aggressor," adding that it made her want "to turn around and go home."