BRUSSELS (Sputnik) — Under the current EU-imposed anti-Russian economic sanctions, the event was, however, attended by representatives of more than 50 European companies.
FCS Head, Andrey Belyaninov, said during his speech at the seminar that Russia remains open to working with the European business.
According to Belyaninov, it would be a pity to lose traditions and established "useful and mutually beneficial" business ties due to sanctions. Therefore, it is important to find mutually acceptable conditions for cooperation under existing political realities, he added.
Following the reunification of Crimea with Russia in 2014 and the escalation of the Ukrainian crisis later that year, Russia's relations with the West deteriorated rapidly.
The European Union and their allies accused Moscow of violating Ukraine's territorial integrity and interfering with the country’s internal affairs.
As a punitive measure, the West imposed several rounds of sanctions against Russia, targeting the country’s economy, as well as certain individuals.
Russia has repeatedly denied the accusations, deeming the sanctions to be counterproductive and responding with its own ban on most food products from the countries that introduced the sanctions against it.