Yekaterinburg, September 14, 2026 – The Europe Today: Russian President Vladimir Putin has welcomed participants of the International Youth Festival, which opened in the Russian city of Yekaterinburg, emphasizing the importance of peace, equality and international cooperation.
In a video address to the participants, Putin highlighted the significance of the Russian word “mir,” which can refer both to peace and harmony as well as the world and humanity as a whole. He said the dual meaning reflected the distinctive character of Russia’s multi-ethnic society and helped explain the country’s approach to international affairs.
Putin stressed that every individual should be treated with dignity regardless of nationality, wealth, social status or background.
“We want every person to remain human and for their fate to be determined by things other than nationality, a wallet packed with money, status, or background,” the Russian president said.
He added that Russia supports equal access for all nations to essential resources and opportunities, including medicines, food, water, energy and education, as well as modern technologies.
“If you share these aspirations, let’s change the world together,” Putin told the festival participants.
His address was met with applause from attendees gathered at the Ekaterinburg-Expo International Exhibition Center.
Sergey Kirienko, Deputy Head of the Presidential Administration of Russia, also addressed the gathering, noting the broad international participation in the event.
“We’ve got representatives from 191 countries here – we’ve practically got the whole world here,” Kirienko said.
He described the participants as young leaders from fields including politics, business, science and media, emphasizing their potential role in shaping the global landscape in the years ahead.
According to the organizers, around 10,000 young people have been invited to participate in the festival, which is being held as a platform for international dialogue, cultural exchange and discussions on global challenges.
The gathering includes participants from former Soviet republics as well as major countries including China, India, Saudi Arabia, Brazil and Argentina. More than 100 young people from Western countries, including France, the United Kingdom and Italy, have also been invited.
The International Youth Festival is scheduled to continue through September 17, bringing together young people from around the world to exchange views and explore opportunities for international cooperation.
