Summary
Moscow warns that Western companies that left Russia after its invasion of Ukraine will face consequences if they return.
Russian industry minister Anton Alikhanov stated, “There will be a price to pay for past decisions,” emphasizing a focus on domestic and Eurasian partners.
Nearly 475 firms, including McDonald’s and Ikea, exited following sanctions, though some may consider returning post-war.
Experts note that political, reputational, and economic challenges—amid ongoing inflation, tight monetary policy, and Putin’s authoritarian control—will likely deter a rapid re-entry by Western companies.
That’s not true, lots of companies left, some even at great cost.
Some remained under local names, I think for instance Coco Cola.
We’ve seen recordings of shopping malls where many shops were gone, and many of the remaining shops sold obvious counterfeit western brands.
Also a lot of business is decidedly illegal to continue in Russia due to sanctions.