Russian President Vladimir Putin said Western companies could recover their Russian assets if a favorable scenario emerged. He referred to Moscow’s decision to place several European companies under temporary external administration, describing the move as a response to what Russia called the seizure of Russian assets by Western countries. Speaking at the Valdai Forum of international experts, Putin said Russia had not nationalized the companies and argued that European actions, including in the Federal Republic of Germany, breached established rules. Asked whether European companies could regain their assets, he replied that they would.