Russia has increased the hurdles for Western companies wanting to withdraw from the country, the British business newspaper Financial Times learned from insiders. According to the report, the government has been making it difficult for companies to take the proceeds from the sale of their Russian business out of the country since July. The restrictions are intended to support the ruble. However, corporate sales carried out in the Russian national currency would not be subject to such restrictions. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov commented on the report by saying that the ruble was an “absolute priority.” There cannot be a “free exit” for Western companies under the current circumstances, said Peskov.