MOSCOW (Sputnik) — The ambassador added that the calls of the Austrian Foreign Minister to gradually lift anti-Russian sanctions amid the country’s steps toward fulfilling the Minsk agreements on Ukrainian reconciliation reflect the general mood of the Austrian business circles and society.
"Amid sanctions and our [Russia’s] relations with the European Union, including Austria, during the past two years we could feel the sharp fall in mutual turnover, more than 50 percent across the European Union… But what is positive even given the turnover decline is the fact that over 600 Austrian companies are operating on the Russian market and I am not aware of any examples of any of those companies stopping its operations or leaving Russia. It is an important sign of stability of our trade relations. Moreover, mutual investments are increasing," the ambassador said.
Russia has repeatedly refuted the allegations, warning that the Western sanctions are counterproductive and undermine global stability. In response to the restrictive measures, Russia has imposed a food embargo on some products originating in countries that have targeted it with sanctions.
