Peskov questioned McFaul’s scheme to lift sanctions against Russian businessmen

Large Russian business “stands with its feet” on Russian soil, so it is unlikely that it will take seriously any schemes to lift sanctions, Dmitry Peskov, the press secretary of the President of the Russian Federation, told reporters.

Peskov was asked to comment at a conference call publication ex-US Ambassador to Russia Michael McFaul, in which he proposed to impose sanctions against all Russian billionaires. At the same time, in his opinion, it is necessary to give them all the opportunity to get out of the restrictions. To do this, they must condemn the special operation in Ukraine and personally Russian President Vladimir Putin, donate half of their fortune to the Fund for the Reconstruction of Ukraine, and also refuse to invest in Russia.

“Large entrepreneurs, they still stand with their feet on Russian soil. Their enterprises operate here, their investments operate here in Russia, their business and income, mainly income, also arises here. Therefore, those who have their feet here on Russian soil, of course, such proposals are unlikely to be taken seriously by anyone,” Peskov commented.

On March 16, Putin spoke at the congress of the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs (RSPP). The public meeting of the president with the heads of the largest companies was held for the first time since February 24, 2022. The theme of the congress was the theme of “partnership” between business and the state, “excellent” results of companies over the past year and “constructive interaction” on financial issues, wrote “Vedomosti”.

According to him, Russia managed to compensate for the closure of Western markets – Russia’s foreign trade turnover increased by more than 8% last year. Putin recalled that exports increased by almost 20%, imports decreased by about 12%, and the trade surplus amounted to $332 billion.