Putin stole their work but now they want them back

Vladimir Putin did something that he was completely out of character at first glance.

The President of Russia has signed an order to allow Italian thermal systems manufacturer Ariston by the Russian subsidiary. Order, Control home systems of the company’s management, a branch of the state-owned Russian energy giant.

However, Putin, on Wednesday, signed another presidential order by abolishing this decision and handed over the property to Italians.

Ariston Group Executive Paolo Merloni, “Russia intends to continue to operate with our local authorities, fully comply with existing sanctions and continue our inheritance in the country.”

As a result, a door appears to be opened to return Western companies Assets seized by the Kremlin After the Russian troops were spilled in 2022 to the Ukrainian border.

According to the analysis of the Kiev Economic School (KSE) Institute, Western companies in Russia damaged $ 167 billion (129 billion pounds).

Sanctions on trade, caused a corporate output wave, seized a multinational asset and the workers were arrested. Many were forced to sell at 80pc discount.

Putin’s tactics caused a wave of corporate battles and legal claims because they are trying to retrieve companies’ money. Until recently, it was a little hope of enterprises who managed to take something out of Russia.

Now the chances of returning to Russia – if the relevant payment for stolen assets – the Donald Trump in the White House has risen by new messaging to reopen economic relations with Russia.

The head of the Russian Direct Investment Foundation Kirill Dmitriev, “a number of American companies will return to the early Russian market in the second quarter of the year,” he said.

Some Western businesses have already taken place to return.

French carmaker Renault, Renault sold 67.69pc interests in Russia in Russia and in May 2022, but there has been an option to get back to AvtoVaz for six years in this Agreement.

Renault leader, Luca de Meo, Last month refused to return to Russia. However, the authorities have said that the carmaker will have to pay $ 1.3 billion to do so since today.

Executors must be careful: Analysts warn that Putin uses Western businesses as a pawnshop with Europe and the United States. The lost Western assets and cash was transformed into a bargaining chip in the potential peace agreement with Ukraine and a way to allocate Europe.

“As the sanctions spread, the Kremlin is increasingly increasing because the Russian assets of multinational companies are useful for frozen assets and S-RM consultants.

Europe and the United States, Russia’s assets abroad, freezing about $ 300 billion in something to Kremlin’s racial. Austria Raiffeisen Bank International (RBI) is fighting in the AvDRIA in the Near 2 billion euros (£ 1.7 billion) for frozen assets.

RBI spokesman Kristof Danz says: “We had a total of 10 minutes in court,” he said. The accused was wrapped by armed people wearing Balaclavas. RBI draws power and has another hearing meeting on April 24.

“This type of use of Western business in Russia and (Putin) was one of the most useful tools in the Kremlin tool box over certain European countries.”

By the decision of the Ariston, Putin can also return the assets of a softer line to Moscow, trying to section Europe.

“I think that I am pleased to allow Putin’s assets to return certain Western companies in a wedge between different members of the EU.

“Italy has sometimes been a kind of soft target for Russia.

After the war, the reaction to the wave of Western sanctions that hit Russia in Russia, was a violent attack on foreign enterprises operating in the state. $ 167 billion lost $ 167 billion in $ 167 billion since 2022, according to the KSE Institute, 30 billion dollars were accused of force.

These are the French yogurt manufacturer Danone and Denmark Breek Carlsberg, both have cut the losses of Russian assets.

Putin also applied blocks to companies trying to escape. Enterprises selling assets in Russia to the previous autumn should have hit 50pc and pay 15 income taxes. In October, Russia has increased its discount to 60pc and exit the exit to 35pc.

The operations are also subject to an extended approval of the Ministry of Finance. Can take 12 months and often fails. In other words, many enterprises are being effectively held with ransom.

West companies fight back. Ariston’s case was supported by the main lobbyist of the Italian Foreign Ministry. More companies are trying to attack the legal system.

The German oil and gas producer Wintershaler DEA has launched two arbitration processes against the Russian Federation after Putin.

Fortnan Energy Company Fortum, after the seizure of the presidential decree in 2024 in 2024, started the arbitration process against Russia in February 2024.

“Fortum has been monitoring all the controls and assets since today, we do not know who work these assets and have any other information about the assets.”

These tactics can be legally successful. In June 2024, Germany’s energy company UNIPER won the $ 14 billion arbitration power against Russia’s state energy giant Gazprom. But there is a big difference between gaining and applying the court decision.

“It looks good, sounds good, but in practice, the award of that nature in the current environment is likely to be more symbolic in nature,” Massey said. “Protect and recovery are very difficult exercises in enemy conditions.”

Will Western business return to Russia if they can’t get money due to their lost enterprises?

Russia still has $ 194 billion in foreign assets, and Trump suggested that the business will give a big sign in the business to restore operations.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that in February, Russia could be “incredible opportunities” in Russia’s business.

Companies from Donald Trump to be selected, companies say (to get to Russia), previously Moscow law firm Debevoise & Plimpton and now Control the Eastern European work.

“It has changed so much. Now you have to develop economic relations with Russia, saying, saying that we have the president, and we will pay attention to investors.

Hedging funds explore how they can invest in the Russian stock market. “They want to bet on the potential peace agreement.”

Sewell says other companies look at the feasibility study for the sale of goods that are not sanctioned as food.

Only three years after billions of accusations in Russia, Western business is considering returning to return.

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