Kremlin views substitution of foreign companies, including Finnish ones, by Russian businesses as advantage

MOSCOW. July 7 (Interfax) - Russian companies that are replacing foreign businesses leaving the Russian market, including Finnish ones, feel comfortable in the new conditions, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.

"As for the opinion that this does not do any good, [...] well, perhaps, Russian companies and entrepreneurs who take the place vacated by foreign, including Finnish companies, on the Russian market would disagree. They welcome the withdrawal of foreign companies and are quite comfortable and happy with their new business," Peskov told reporters on Friday, when asked to comment on a statement by Finnish President Sauli Niinisto, who said that the withdrawal of all Finnish companies from the Russian market proved to be an inefficient instrument.

As to what advice the Kremlin would give Niinisto, Peskov said, "We are not in the position to give advice to the president of Finland, he was elected by the people of Finland, who by the way are very close to us and share a very good past with us."

Russia hopes for a good future relations with Finland after the latter recovers from its "Russophobic blindness," Peskov said.