NOVO-OGARYOVO, March 27. /ITAR-TASS/. The decision by a number of foreign companies to restrict the operation of their payment systems in Russia will be unprofitable for them, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Thursday.

“It’s a pity that some companies made the decision on these restrictions. I think it will cause them to lose certain segments of the market, a rather profitable market,” Putin said at a meeting with members of the upper house of Russia’s parliament, the Federation Council.

“However, this is not our decision, we have to protect our interests, and we will do that [establish a national payment system],” he said.