Several members of Germany's AfD (Alternative für Deutschland, a party classified as partly far-right by German authorities) attended the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF), an annual conference hosted by the Russian government since 1997, drawing around 20,000 visitors from 130 countries this year. The attendance of Bundestag deputies Markus Frohnmaier and Steffen Kotré drew sharp criticism in Germany, including from the federal government. President Vladimir Putin praised the AfD politicians, saying they articulated their positions clearly and without fear, and signalled Moscow's readiness to work with the party, which has polled ahead of Germany's ruling coalition; the AfD delegates used the forum to call for an end to Western sanctions and a resumption of Russian oil and gas supplies, with Putin noting that Gazprom remains willing to deliver gas immediately via the one intact remaining Nord Stream pipeline.