Mr. Robert Agee, Chairman of the US chamber of Commerce in Russia, revealed in an interview with RBK daily on August 20 that US corporations are not ready to return immediately, but "they are waiting, observing and calculating".
According to him, many large corporations in the energy and information technology sectors still maintain a deep interest in the Russian market. However, to realize it, a peace deal and lift of sanctions against Russia related to Ukraine are needed.
The statement came after a meeting at the White House between US President Donald Trump, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and European leaders, following last week's Alaska summit between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
A move seen as a positive signal is Moscows permission of ExxonMobil to take back shares in the Sakhalin-1 energy project. Mr. Agee commented: "This is a very good signal, positively recognized by US businesses".
According to data from the US Chamber of Commerce in Russia, about 20% of US businesses withdrawing from Russia in the 2022-2023 period have retained the right to buy back assets in divestment agreements. Most of these options will expire in 2026-2027, meaning that within the next 1-2 years, US businesses will be forced to decide whether to withdraw or give up permanently.
Since 2022, the withdrawal from Russia has been booming due to unprecedented sanctions from the West. Some companies withdrew to avoid the risk of secondary sanctions or pressure from international public opinion.
However, earlier this year, President Putin asked the government to draft a legal framework allowing the return of Western businesses while ensuring the rights of domestic companies.
Thus, the "return door" is still open, but only really clear if Washington and Moscow find a formula for peace in the Ukrainian conflict. For now, US corporations are still lining up to wait for the time.
