Alexey German (Jr.) advised Witkoff to take an evening stroll around St. Petersburg instead of eating smelt

Film director Alexey German (Jr.), in a comment to Life.ru, gave advice to US special envoy Steve Witkoff, who arrived in St. Petersburg for talks with Vladimir Putin. In German's view, smelt is a specific food that the diplomat might not like, and it would be best to arrange an evening stroll around the city and dinner at a restaurant with a view.

Javlon TursunovFirst published on tafs uz 2 min read
Alexey German (Jr.) advised Witkoff to take an evening stroll around St. Petersburg instead of eating smelt

The key facts

  • The meeting between Putin and Witkoff is taking place at the Constantine Palace in St. Petersburg
  • German (Jr.) doubts that Witkoff will like smelt and recommends a stroll around the city in the evening
  • The director recommends a route from Peterhof to the Hermitage and dinner at a restaurant with a view of the city

Advice from the director to the American diplomat

Russian film director Alexey German (Jr.), in a comment to Life.ru, shared his opinion on what US special envoy Steve Witkoff should do during his visit to St. Petersburg. The diplomat arrived in Russia for talks on resolving the Ukrainian conflict; his meeting with President Vladimir Putin is taking place at the Constantine Palace — one of the main residences in the suburbs of St. Petersburg, frequently used for top-level meetings.

Skepticism about smelt and pirozhki-style pastries

German (Jr.) said he is not sure whether Witkoff will like smelt, since it is a 'specific food.' In his words, one should not chase gastronomic stereotypes. The popular pyshki (doughnut-style pastries), in the director's opinion, are no different from those elsewhere — their taste is 'exactly the same as that of any decent pyshki in the country.'

A stroll and a restaurant with a view

Instead of tasting delicacies, the director advises visiting places from Peterhof to the Hermitage, where 'you simply must go,' and strolling around the city, which he called an open-air museum. 'If I were in Witkoff's place, after an evening stroll, I would find some restaurant with a view, so as to have dinner and look at the city,' Life.ru quoted German as saying. He added that many good and tasty restaurants have appeared in St. Petersburg.

Context of the visit

Earlier, media reports appeared saying that Witkoff might try local delicacies, including smelt, but the diplomat himself did not comment on his gastronomic plans. According to Life.ru, citing Marco Rubio, Witkoff will present Putin with the results of the meeting with Zelensky.

Honestly, I'm not sure that foreigners are or will be such fans of smelt. Smelt is a rather specific food, to be honest — I don't think Witkoff will like it. I think the most sensible thing is to visit the places from Peterhof to the Hermitage, which one simply must see. But it seems to me that St. Petersburg is, after all, an open-air museum, so it's best to just walk around it sometimes wherever your eyes lead you.Honestly, I'm not sure that foreigners are or will be such fans of smelt. Smelt is a rather specific food, to be honest — I don't think Witkoff will like it. I think the most sensible thing is to visit the places from Peterhof to the Hermitage, which one simply must see. But it seems to me that St. Petersburg is, after all, an open-air museum, so it's best to just walk around it sometimes wherever your eyes lead you.Rubio: Witkoff will present to Putin the results of the meeting with Zelensky

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