Putin tells Russian business not to count on fully free trade even if Western sanctions are eased

Record ID: 1984235

  • Title: Putin tells Russian business not to count on fully free trade even if Western sanctions are eased
  • Date: 18th March 2025
  • Summary: MOSCOW, RUSSIA (MARCH 18, 2025) (RUSSIAN POOL) RUSSIAN PRESIDENT VLADIMIR PUTIN STANDING UP AND COMING TO DESK TO DELIVER SPEECH DURING ANNUAL CONGRESS OF RUSSIA'S INDUSTRIALISTS AND BUSINESS LEADERS PUTIN DELIVERING SPEECH AUDIENCE LISTENING TO PUTIN (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) RUSSIAN PRESIDENT, VLADIMIR PUTIN, SAYING (STARTS OVER SHOT OF AUDIENCE LISTENING): "I know that the
  • Embargoed:
  • Keywords: PUTIN RUSSIA SANCTIONS UKRAINE CRISIS
  • Location: MOSCOW, RUSSIA
  • City: MOSCOW, RUSSIA
  • Country: Russia
  • Topics: Europe,Government/Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA001973318032025RP1
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: President Vladimir Putin told Russian business leaders on Tuesday (March 18) not to count on fully free trade or movement of capital being restored in the event of Western sanctions on Russia being eased.
    "Our competitors will always want to weaken and contain us," Putin told a meeting with Russian businessmen.
    "Even if one side will make a gesture and offer to lift or ease something another method of causing problems for us will be found immediately," said Putin.
    Putin also said that Western companies that "slammed the door defiantly" when they left Russia will not be allowed to buy back the businesses they quit for small amounts of money or fill niches that local businesses have taken.
    Hundreds of Western firms have exited Russia since Moscow sent tens of thousands of troops into Ukraine in February 2022. Companies have taken different approaches with some selling up, others handing the keys to existing managers or, in some cases, abandoning the assets altogether.
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