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Over 90% of Western companies remain in Russia — Austrian foreign minister

Some Austrian officials "harbor hopes for a quick conclusion to the war and a return to more normal relations with Russia"

VIENNA, March 22. /TASS/. More than 90% of Western companies remain in Russia, having taken a wait-and-see attitude, Austria's foreign minister Alexander Schallenberg said in an interview published by Reuters on Wednesday.

"Let's get real, 91% of Western companies are still in Russia and doing what is sensible: waiting, containment, ring fencing," he said.

Commenting on operations of Raiffeisen Bank in Russia, the minister noted that Austrian companies stick to Austria’s rules and the European Union’s sanctions policy, adding that other Western financial organizations, including Bank of America, remain present in Russia as well.

Some Austrian officials "harbor hopes for a quick conclusion to the war and a return to more normal relations with Russia," the agency said citing people familiar with the matter.

Raiffeisen Bank, a subsidiary of one of the largest Austrian banking groups Raiffeisen Bank International AG, has been operating in Russia since 1996. Raiffeisen Bank is the tenth-biggest lender in terms of assets among Russian credit organizations.

Earlier, Reuters said that the US sanctions authority launched an inquiry into Raiffeisen over its business related to Russia.

Raiffeisen Bank, a subsidiary of one of the largest Austrian banking groups Raiffeisen Bank International AG, has been operating in Russia since 1996. Raiffeisen Bank is on the list of systemic credit organizations in Russia.

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Maria Zakharova pointed out that Russia reaffirms its "strict commitment" to the international legal obligations under space law

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US State Department confirms secret shipments of long-range ATACMS missiles to Kiev

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European Parliament urges EU states to regard Russian presidential vote as illegitimate

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Belarus has no intentions of launching mobilization, says President Lukashenko

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Radioactive cloud from Ukraine’s eliminated munitions drifts to Europe — Security Council

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Russian Embassy to Austria denied participation in ceremony at Nazi concentration camp

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Ukraine exhausted, needs constant money flow from outside — defense official

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Ukraine says Western systems ineffective against Russia's electronic warfare

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"Neither these missiles nor other weapons can help defeat the Russian Federation," Anatoly Antonov said

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Yury Chikhanchin pointed out that the perpetrators of the attack were provided with money, weapons, transportation and ammunition

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Kiev may use ATACMS missiles to hit Crimean Bridge — Russian defense ministry official

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Russia tasked with 'building new world' — Putin

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