Putin warns Russian entrepreneurs: Don't expect quick peace

According to Rustamova, Putin spoke with entrepreneurs during a closed session of the Congress of the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs, held on March 18, before the telephone conversation between the Russian president and Donald Trump.

— Let me put it this way: the president advised us not to be naive and to understand how many people and interests are involved in the processes currently taking place — said one of the meeting participants.

According to another source who was also present at the meeting, Putin believes that the U.S. and the West "will still find a way to put pressure on us, even if the sanctions are lifted."

— This machine (of the war with Ukraine, sanctions—ed.) will not be easily dismantled — said one entrepreneur.

Another participant stated that Putin had a "positive but objective" attitude concerning the issue of the war with Ukraine. — There was no unrestrained optimism that (negotiating peace) would be possible quickly — he said.

Putin urged the entrepreneurs not to celebrate too quickly and "not to expect that the sanctions will be lifted tomorrow."

During the public portion of the meeting, Putin stated that "nothing will be the same" when commenting on the possible return of Western companies to Russia. — There is no point in expecting complete freedom of trade, payments, and capital flow. We cannot rely on Western mechanisms for the protection of investors' and entrepreneurs' rights — he said.

According to "Kommersant," Putin also stated during the meeting that Russia will not claim rights to "Odessa and other territories" of Ukraine if Crimea and the Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia regions are recognized as Russian territories.

After Trump's conversation with Putin, the Kremlin issued a statement that the Russian president agreed to a 30-day suspension of attacks on energy facilities. Yet, the following night, the Russians struck Ukraine.