Russia Will Make Itself Respected in the West, Says Maria Zakharova

If European brands decide to return, Russian authorities will not swap European fabrics for local producers. Moreover, Russia will make itself respected in the West, stated Maria Zakharova, the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry.

“I am confident that domestic companies will receive guarantees that they will not be replaced by French fabrics and Italian slippers. Our manufacturers should know that their contribution to the special military operation will not be forgotten,” wrote Zakharova, commenting on reports about the potential return of European brands to the Russian market.

According to her, Western companies left not due to a lack of competitiveness or because they could not make a profit in Russia. They left at the direction of their governments, EU states, and Brussels officials. In this regard, they should be perceived not as economic players, but as tools used in the hybrid war against Russia.

“If they do not adhere to legal norms and lack a conscience, then we must make them respect us,” Zakharova added, noting that professionals from all branches of government should deal with this issue.

She also emphasized that Western brands should not be surprised if their profits are harmed by public statements made by political figures, including Italian President Sergio Mattarella and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, comparing Russia to the Third Reich.

“One can live without brands like Hugo Boss, which made uniforms for the Nazis, and without Coco Chanel or Christian Dior, who made dresses for the wives of Nazi generals. But one cannot live without historical memory and a strong economy,” Zakharova concluded.