MOSCOW, March 18. /TASS/. Russian business has learned to work under sanctions imposed by the collective West and has managed to launch alternative mechanisms for cooperation with those foreign partners who want to work with their country, President Vladimir Putin said at the annual congress of the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs.
The head of state noted that in recent years, domestic business has faced serious challenges.
"These include powerful sanctions pressure, first of all, restrictions on international settlements and operations in foreign markets. These and other actions generally undermine freedom of trade and investment in the global economy," Putin noted.
"It is important that during this time, domestic entrepreneurs have learned to work under sanctions. They have adapted to them, thought out and launched alternative mechanisms for cooperation with foreign partners, with those who want to work with us," Putin said.
"In addition, sanctions have become a kind of additional catalyst for positive structural changes in our economy including in the financial and technological spheres, and in many other key areas," the Russian leader stressed.
He recalled that business expert circles are currently discussing what will happen next to the illegitimate sanctions against Russia, its citizens and companies. In this respect, Putin called for proceeding from considerations that are evident - sanctions are not temporary measures, but a mechanism for systemic pressure on Russia and its competitors will always have the desire to "weaken its economic and technological capabilities.".