Russia won’t 'roll out the red carpet' for McDonald’s return: Putin

Russian President Vladimir Putin said his country will not “roll out the red carpet” for McDonald’s if the American fast-food giant seeks to return, state media reported Monday amid reports that foreign companies are exploring a return to the Russian market.

McDonald’s exited Russia in 2022 following sweeping Western sanctions over Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine. The company sold its Russian operations to a local investor who had operated 25 McDonald’s franchises in Siberia since 2015.

The chain was later rebranded as “Vkusno i Tochka,” or “Tasty and That’s It,” and reopened on June 12, 2022.

Speaking during a Kremlin meeting with business leaders, Putin told Oleg Paroyev, CEO of Vkusno i Tochka, that Russia would not be overly welcoming to companies that previously pulled out.

“They put everyone in a difficult position, ran away, and now, if they want to come back, are we supposed to roll out the red carpet for them? Of course not,” Putin said, according to Russian news agency TASS.

Putin said he has directed the government to establish a framework for the potential return of foreign firms, emphasising that the process should be handled “calmly and without any hostility,” with a focus on protecting Russian business interests.

“There can’t even be any doubts about this,” he added. “Together with you, we will work through everything, think it through, down to the last detail. But only to our advantage.”

Putin also said some foreign companies in other sectors have expressed interest in resuming operations in Russia, and he encouraged Russian firms to assess such offers carefully.

“Let them come back but make sure it’s on your terms,” he said. “If it is advantageous for you, let them return. If it works for you, go ahead; if not, we’ll make it so it does.”