US firms still eye Russian market despite sanctions, pressure: Antonov

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
28 Sep 2023 11:54

Russia's ambassador to Washington says the US is dodging blame for breaking trade ties with Moscow.

A view of the Moscow Exchange office in Moscow, Russia, in March 2022. (AFP)

US-based companies are still interested in conducting business in the Russian markets despite Washington's pressure and media propaganda, Russian Ambassador to the United States Anatoly Antonov said.

The Russian diplomat added that the US is trying to avoid responsibility for severing trade ties with Moscow, noting that Washington's sanctions are what led to the current state of business relations between the two countries.

False liberty

US Department of State Spokesperson Matthew Miller said during a press briefing on Wednesday that every business has the liberty to decide "on its own" whether to stay in Russia or exit the market, claiming that the US government had not "tried to tell businesses that are working to provide food or pharmaceutical goods to the Russian people that they should stop doing business there."

Commenting on this claim, Antonov said that "these statements are quite puzzling."

"Here in Washington, they want to take off themselves the responsibility for piling up all kinds of sanctions that led to the collapse of bilateral commercial ties," he stated.

"Because of an incredible number of restrictions in the financial and trade spheres, it has become almost impossible for economic agents to make necessary payments. This is also true for food and medicine transactions, which, as the US administration often claims, are not subject to sanctions. Logistical routes for the supply of goods have also been disrupted," the Russian diplomat pointed out.

Open doors

Furthermore, Antonov confirmed that the US is compiling a black list of ‘malicious perpetrators’ who do not fall for the threats of these inciters.

"Biased media outlets and some non-governmental organizations jealously joined the efforts to exert blatant pressure on business. Spreading defamatory publications, they push corporations to leave Russia, even at the cost of multimillion-dollar losses."

In June, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that if foreign companies want to return to Russia, "we will not close doors for anyone."

Reiterating Putin's position, the Russian ambassador confirmed that his country remains ready to establish trade relations based on mutual interests with foreign businesses.

"But even under these circumstances, American enterprises confirm their interest in maintaining a presence in Russia. On our part, we remain open to mutually beneficial commercial cooperation."