MOSCOW, June 12. /TASS/. Many companies from Europe and the US plan to return to the Russian market as soon as possible, although now they have to wait, Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said in an interview with TASS.

"There are decisions of individual governments, there is a decision of the European Union as an integration association, there is a directive for all vassals from the United States, but many businesses from the US and Europe, as we are well aware, are unfortunately forced to wait for now. And they intend to return to our market as soon as possible," Peskov noted.

However, he continued, for many of the departed companies "it will be harder, more expensive." "The vacuum is instantly filled by someone else," he added.

Peskov added that fewer representatives of Western states will come to the forum this year. However, "there will be fewer of them, not because they do not want to, and not because they all made such decision," the Kremlin spokesman noted.

According to the presidential spokesman, the Russian authorities treat foreign companies that do not leave the Russian market despite external pressure or say they are ready to return as soon as possible with care and respect. "We treat foreign businessmen who stay here with extreme care. We are very respectful and just as careful about those businessmen who, under pressure, are forced to wait for now, but who have already said that they would resume their business activity here at the first opportunity," he said.

"There are many such businessmen, there are many such companies, and we will treat them this way, we will create favorable conditions for them in the future," the Kremlin spokesman added.