The Russian president, Vladimir Putin, threatened on Monday, May 26 to “strangle” the western companies that remain in Russia and act against their interests, as part of Moscow’s efforts to strengthen the development of Russian software.
“We have to strangle them. I totally agree, and I say it without hesitation,” said Vladimir Putin in response to the call of a businessman to restrict the activities of American technology companies Zoom and Microsoft, which currently provide limited services in Russia.
Many Western companies have abandoned Russia or have considerably reduced their activities in the country after Moscow launched their military offensive in Ukraine in February 2022, which led to a series of economic sanctions of kyiv’s allies.
He participated in a meeting with businessmen, without specifying how Western companies damage Russia.
No western company has returned to Russia
“We must respond in the same way, to reflect their actions,” added the Russian president, who has considerably harden the country’s departure conditions for companies that seek to leave Russia, forcing a lot to sell their assets with important discounts.
However, in April, Kirill Dmitriev, head of the Russian Sovereign Fund and Putin’s special envoy for economic cooperation, said his fund had received numerous requests from US companies who want to return to Russia.
Until now, no great Western company has publicly announced its plans to return to this country. Some companies have secured purchase options after having sold their assets to their local administration, leaving the door open to a possible return to Russia.
The companies that have completely abandoned Russia, such as the American fast food chain McDonald’s, will not receive a warm welcome if they decide to return, Vladimir Putin warned.
McDonald’s “put everyone in a difficult situation,” he criticized. “They have gone, and now, if you want to return, are we supposed to unwind the carpet? No, of course not,” he said.
Source: BFM TV
