Zakharova called the unity in WWII the best moment in the history of relations between Russia and the United States.

The best moment in the history of Russian-American relations was the unity of the two countries during the Second World War (WWII), which rallied in the face of common horror. This was announced on June 4 by the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova, as part of the St. Petersburg International Economic Marathon (SPIEF-2026).

"Our brotherhood during the Second World War. It seems to me that this is the best thing that has happened, despite the horrors that have been happening in our history, in the form of such a real, sincere, uplifting unity in the name of, again, the true goal," RIA Novosti quotes the diplomat as saying.

She also noted that the visit of the US representative to the SPIEF gives Washington the opportunity to convey its position to a wide range of participants.

Important agreements: SPIEF started with a discussion on the future of media and the development of a multipolar world

What else did the participants discuss on the first day of the forum and what do the guests expect from the main economic event of the year?

The American delegation is taking part in the SPIEF for the first time in many years. It was headed by Rodney Mims Cook Jr., head of the Commission on Fine Arts, founder and president of the National Monuments Fund of the USA and a specialist on Russia at the World Monuments Fund.

Cook Jr. said on June 3 that he had received permission to come to Russia and attend the SPIEF not only from the US State Department, but also from President Donald Trump. He added that when he visited the center, he felt a strong cultural connection between the two countries. Cook Jr. explained this with similar religious values. According to him, this can help unite people in the modern world.

The main business event of 2026, the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, started the day before, on June 3. It is attended by delegations from more than 130 countries, including those represented at the highest level by heads of State.