BIROBIDZHAN, Russia, April 24 (Reuters) - Russia's NaturalResources Minister said on Thursday that the door would beclosed to foreign companies working in Russia if they decide toleave the country over Ukraine-related sanctions.
He also said that so far foreign companies had not signalledtheir desire to leave Russia, the world's top crude oilproducer, over sanctions the West imposed after Moscow'sannexation of Ukraine's Crimea peninsula.
"It is obvious that they won't return in the near future ifthey sever investment agreements with us, I mean there areconsequences as well," Sergei Donskoi told reporters.
"Russia is one of the most promising countries in terms ofhydrocarbons production. If some contracts are severed here,then, colleagues, you loose a serious lump of your future pie,"the minister added. (Reporting by Denis Dyomkin; Writing by Vladimir Soldatkin;Editing by Alessandra Prentice)
