Kneissl pointed to the globalization process that ended 15 years ago.

Global globalization has long come to a logical end, which was noticeable 15 years ago. Karin Kneissl, the former head of the Austrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, told Izvestia about this on June 5 at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF-2026).

"Now everyone is talking about fragmentation. It became absolutely clear to me 15 years ago that globalization was over. And the pendulum of history is always swinging from one side to the other," she explained.

Discussing the topic of family and traditional values, Kneissl added that in an era when "everything is allowed," people are becoming more conservative — and this phenomenon is increasingly observed in many countries.

"I am not surprised by the current trends. This, I would say, is the logical development of history," she concluded.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on April 28 that a multipolar architecture was taking shape in the world. The new model, he said, is more complex, sustainable and fair. As the Russian leader explained, an increasingly important role is played by states that truly understand and appreciate the importance of national sovereignty.