Russian business world hopes for relief from Trump

Few people are more eager for Donald Trump's arrival in the White House than those who do business in Russia.
Hacking scandals? They expect that to blow over. Conflict in Ukraine? An artificial problem invented by Barack Obama, they argue.
Russian magnates and American investors alike are anticipating a Trump administration that removes punishing sanctions, frees up access to capital and encourages US businesses pursuing profits in Russia's vast market regardless of Russian President Vladimir Putin's policies.
This may all be wishful thinking. With relations at a post-Cold War low, the Kremlin is cautious about the unpredictable new US president not least because of accusations of Russian hacking of the American election campaign.

But in the business world, there's a sense that things can't possibly get any worse, and that relief may finally be around the corner.
"Trump inspires me. He's an entrepreneur" who puts economic benefits first and foremost, said Andrei Kuzyaev, a Russian oil tycoon who now heads ER Telecom, a leading broadband provider.

Russian entrepreneurs wooed venture capital and vaunted their programming and engineering expertise at the World Economic Forum this week, with a gusto not seen in Davos in years.
Vodka is flowing at Davos' "Russia House" and the mood is upbeat - though the conspicuous extravagance of the oil boom years has given way to a more business-like mood.

Deputy Prime Minister Igor Shuvalov is expected to spell out Russia's international economic strategy at Davos today.
While the US sanctions target a relatively narrow group of individuals and state companies and don't bar Americans from doing business in Russia, they hurt Russian access to international financing and feed uncertainty about long-term investment.
"America accounts for a small amount of Russian trade, and doesn't affect my business directly. But (the sanctions) have an effect on our capital markets," said Dmitry Kostygin, chairman of online retailer Ulmart.
Craig Smith, an American whose Europa Property has operations in Russia and across Eastern Europe, said in Davos that he expects the biggest change to be in the business climate, after years of tensions over Russia's annexation of Crimea and support for Ukrainian separatists.