The Kremlin considered McFaul’s proposal to lift Western sanctions against Russian businessmen “frivolous”

Russian businessmen who work and earn income in Russia are unlikely to take seriously the proposal to lift Western sanctions, which was previously expressed by US ex-ambassador to Russia Michael McFaul. This was announced to RBC by the press secretary of the President of the Russian Federation Dmitry Peskov.

McFaul argued that Russian businessmen should be able to exit the sanctions lists. According to him, for this, entrepreneurs will need to condemn the military operation and personally the head of state, as well as donate half of their fortune to the fund for the restoration of Ukraine. McFaul believes that restrictive measures should be expanded against Russians who hold public office, but at the same time, officials will be able to avoid restrictions if they leave their posts.

According to Peskov, such proposals are unlikely to be taken seriously by those “who have their feet here.” He pointed out that big businessmen “have their feet on Russian soil.” Their enterprises and investments operate in Russia, their main income is here, Peskov added.

He stressed that in Moscow, Western sanctions are considered illegal from the point of view of international law.