EU will not get anything from Russia through sanctions, business can't be deceived with such rhetoric – Russia

The sanctions rhetoric of EU politicians on Russia has no prospects and cannot deceive European businesses, Russian First Deputy Prime Minister Igor Shuvalov said.

"This rhetoric – sanctions and statements that we have to fulfill certain conditions before normal dialogue can resume - it a tool that the European Union is now using on us. Secondly, it's impossible to get anything from us by setting such preconditions and capital cannot be deceived in any case," Shuvalov said at a session of the St. Petersburg Economic Forum.

Shuvalov said he is convinced that "all capitalists from the Eurasian Union and from the EU will still demand a common economic space from the governments."

"The Europeans want to make money with Russians, and Russians can invest in Europe. This artificial restriction in the form of sanctions cannot last for a long time," Shuvalov said.

Shuvalov compared the attitude to the sanctions against Russia and the countries that backed them with ice-cream, which has melted in the sun.

"A year ago, the position of those who imposed the sanctions looked solid, like an ice-cream which you have just bought. Now it's all melted in the sun. And businessmen who are working in the framework of the forum - with whom Putin has met and with whom I am having meetings - everyone says they don't support politicians who speak in the language of sanctions," he said.

Shuvalov said foreign businessmen "will support their business projects" in Russia. "The voices of European companies are especially clear. The Americans are saying the same, but the Europeans are saying it clearer," Shuvalov said.