The spokesman acknowledged in statements to the TASS news agency that the number of representatives of Western states who will attend the Saint Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) from June 15th to 18th is lower than in previous years.

In his words, “there will be fewer of them, not because they don’t want to (participate), and not because everyone has made such a decision,” referring to the pressure and blackmail applied by the United States and the European Union towards businesses from Latin American countries and Europe itself.

Peskov noted that, however, “they intend to return to our market as soon as possible.”

He explained that it will be more difficult, more expensive for many of the firms that withdrew their products from Russia, because under current conditions there is no vacuum in the market. “The void is instantly filled in by someone else,” he said.

Peskov stressed that the Moscow authorities treat carefully any foreign businessmen who decided to stay in the country while others left.

He added that Russia also treats with great respect and care the heads of foreign companies who are forced to wait now as they are under pressure, but who have already expressed their decision to continue their business in Russia at the earliest possible opportunity.

The Russian president’s spokesman assured that there are many entrepreneurs and companies of this type, which Russia will treat in this way and for whom it will create favorable conditions in the future.

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