Russians to ban Western companies from leaving Russia, not afraid of sanctions

(Patria) - Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin announced a new measure by which Russians are trying to fight sanctions.

"We will temporarily ban Western companies from leaving our market," Mishustin said in today's address.

"We will ban them from leaving the investments they have in Russia," he added.

Several major companies have announced that they are exiting ownership of Russian companies, or that they are terminating ownership ties with Russian companies. Among them are British energy giant BP, American Shell, and Norwegian Equinor. Russia's new, unprecedented measure attempts to mitigate this blow. Visa and Mastercard have already suspended services with Russian banks.

"Sanctions will not break us. We have no assets in the West. Punish us as much as you want, it's no problem for us," said Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov.

Western sanctions will never change Russia's positions on Ukraine, the Kremlin announced on Tuesday.

"They expect to force us to change our stance. That is out of the question," said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, responding to the Western sanctions imposed due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.   

Peskov told reporters that Russian President Vladimir Putin has been informed about the first round of negotiations held on Monday between Russian and Ukrainian officials, but that it is still too early to assess their outcome.

There are no plans for talks between President Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Peskov said, adding that Moscow still recognizes Zelenskyy as the Ukrainian leader.

According to him, Zelenskyy can prevent further casualties if he orders the laying down of arms.