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Putin says Western companies could get their Russian assets back if things go well

By Thomson Reuters Oct 1, 2026 | 12:32 PM

MOSCOW, Oct 1 (Reuters) – Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday that Western companies could ​get their Russian assets ‌back if “a favourable scenario” came to pass.

The Kremlin chief was referring to the Russian state’s decision to place ‌a ​slew of European companies ⁠under what Moscow ⁠has called temporary external administration.

Speaking at the Valdai Forum of international experts, Putin said that ​Russia was merely responding in kind to the West’s seizure of ⁠Russian assets.

“We have ⁠not nationalised anything from ​anyone. Yes, we are placing certain ​enterprises under external administration. But in ‌some European countries, they have simply, in a blatant breach of every conceivable and inconceivable ⁠rule, seized huge enterprises from us – for example, in the Federal Republic of ⁠Germany,” ‌said Putin.

Asked if European ⁠companies could have their ​assets ‌returned if a favourable scenario ​unfolded, Putin ⁠said:  “Yes, they would get them back”

(Reporting by Vladimir Soldatkin, Olesya Astakhova, Darya Korsunskaya, Anastasia Lyrchikova, Dmitry Antonov and Marina BobrovaEditing by ​Andrew Osborn )