"Apologies Won't Be Enough": What Is Putin Planning?

According to the Telegram channel INSIDER-T, during a recent meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and major business representatives, the possible return of a number of foreign companies to the Russian market was discussed. It is reported that the head of state received appeals from 15 companies wishing to resume their operations in the country.

The preliminary list includes well-known brands such as McDonald’s, IKEA, Starbucks, H&M, Nike, Adidas, Apple, Microsoft, Samsung, Siemens, Nestlé, Unilever, PepsiCo, Coca-Cola, and General Electric. All these companies either completely left Russia or significantly reduced their presence in recent years.

President Putin emphasized that the decision on their return will be made solely in Russia's interests and will take into account the companies' behavior in recent years. He noted that "a simple apology won't be enough," and each company will be thoroughly vetted for loyalty and alignment with national interests. If the return proves beneficial for the country, the companies will be granted permission to resume operations. Otherwise, as Vladimir Putin stated, "thousands of reasons" will be found to deny their return, adds INSIDER-T.