Titov allowed for the return of foreign companies that "miss Moscow"

Some foreign companies not directly affected by sanctions may begin returning to Russia, having initially been forced to leave due to public pressure in their home countries, Boris Titov, the president's special representative for relations with international organizations, said on RBC Radio. He added that expiring buyback options for previously sold assets could also encourage their return.

"Of course, everything will depend on the specific legal situation, but it's certainly true that companies are already thinking about returning. <…> Those who aren't directly subject to sanctions will start returning, because many were once forced to leave due to public opinion in their countries; they were simply coerced. If they hadn't left, they would have lost markets there, at home or in other countries. Today, sentiment is changing," Titov noted.

He also added that companies that previously operated in Russia not only suffered financial losses, but also “really miss Moscow, as it is a cultural environment that many people like.”

In June 2025, Russian President Vladimir Putin instructed the government to review proposals from Russian businesses regarding the conditions for the return of foreign companies to the country. He also noted that the country should support the return of those foreign companies whose return would be beneficial to the Russian market.

In September, Russian presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov stated that Moscow was interested in the return of the departed companies. He also added that " businesses from other countries are interested in the vacated positions."

Following the outbreak of the full-scale conflict in Ukraine, foreign companies began to cease or curtail their operations in Russia. However, most continued to renew their trademark registrations. As Bloomberg reported in November 2025, more than 300 foreign companies faced the threat of losing their trademark rights in Russia, including Giorgio Armani, Calvin Klein, and Amazon, due to Article 1486 of the Civil Code, which allows for the termination of legal protection for a trademark if the owner fails to use it for three consecutive years.

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