Kremlin agrees to Western firms return if they didn’t support Ukraine

(MENAFN) Western companies may return to Russia if they have not supported the Ukrainian military and have fulfilled all obligations to their employees and the state, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.

In an interview with a news agency, during the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok, released Saturday, Peskov explained Moscow’s stance toward foreign firms that left Russia following the 2022 Ukraine escalation and subsequent Western sanctions. He noted, “it would be wrong to say we are not interested in these companies returning.”

Peskov said many companies that exited “reserved the right to return, fulfilling all their obligations to employees and to Russian regions... With them, of course, we need to conduct a very careful, respectful dialogue, observing our interests.”

However, other firms left without paying salaries or meeting social obligations. Peskov emphasized they could still come back if they make amends. “Everyone should be allowed back. It will just be very expensive for them to return.”

The only firms not welcome are those that have aided the Ukrainian military. “These companies have already become enemies, and that is how they should be treated,” he stated.

Western companies lost billions as they exited Russia. BP reportedly wrote off over $25 billion from its Rosneft stake, while McDonald’s, selling its Russian outlets to a local licensee, wrote off $1.3 billion. A Reuters analysis earlier this year estimated that foreign companies leaving Russia suffered losses exceeding $107 billion.

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