Global Clients — Russia
UK and European Market Access for Russian-Based Companies
Current UK and EU sanctions significantly restrict trade and commercial activity with Russia. This page sets out that position factually, for companies based in Russia assessing what, if anything, is lawfully possible now, and for future reference should the position change.
In short
UK and EU sanctions currently prohibit or severely restrict most trade, financial transactions and commercial engagement with Russia. Evans Sales Consultancy does not support, advise on or facilitate any activity that could breach sanctions, and any company considering UK or European market activity from Russia should first take specialist sanctions and export-control legal advice.
Who this is for: Companies based in Russia with lawful, sanctions-compliant commercial activity who need a clear, factual view of current UK and European market access.
The current position
Since 2022, the UK and the European Union have progressively expanded sanctions covering trade, finance, transport, insurance and professional services connected to Russia. These measures affect a very wide range of goods, sectors and individuals, and the detail changes regularly. For the large majority of commercial activity, current sanctions mean that normal market entry into the UK or Europe from Russia is not lawfully possible.
This page exists for two reasons: to be factually clear about that position rather than silent on it, and to remain available for the limited set of companies with genuinely lawful, sanctions-compliant activity, or for a future point at which the position may change.
What this page is not
This is not guidance on how to structure activity around sanctions, and it should not be read as encouragement to attempt UK or European market entry under current conditions. Evans Sales Consultancy does not provide sanctions or export-control legal advice, and we do not work with any engagement where sanctions compliance is unclear or unresolved.
Any company that believes its activity is lawful under current sanctions — for example, in a category subject to a specific licence or exemption — should confirm that position with specialist sanctions counsel before any commercial planning begins. We would expect to see that confirmation before considering any engagement.
Where this leaves genuinely compliant activity
For the narrow set of circumstances where trade or commercial activity is confirmed as lawful and sanctions-compliant, ordinary market-entry principles still apply: understanding route to market, appropriate commercial structuring, and — where relevant — building sales capability in the destination market. We would approach that work in the same rigorous way as any other market entry, once compliance has been independently established.
For future reference
Sanctions regimes are reviewed and can change. We are keeping this page factual and current rather than removing it, so that if the position around UK and European trade with Russia changes materially in future, there is an honest starting point rather than an assumption that nothing has changed since 2022.
If the position changes
Should sanctions be eased or lifted for particular sectors or activities in future, the fundamentals of UK and European market entry will not have changed: understanding how buyers in each market specify and purchase, choosing the right route to market, and building credible local commercial capability. We would revisit this page and expand it substantively at that point, rather than treating a change in sanctions as an immediate green light for broad market entry.
Where we can take you
Destination markets
What we do — and what we don’t claim
- Evans Sales Consultancy does not provide sanctions, export-control or legal advice, and does not advise on structuring activity to work around sanctions.
- We do not accept engagements where sanctions compliance has not been independently confirmed by specialist legal counsel.
- We do not claim any current clients, presence or historical engagements connected to Russia.
Common questions
For the large majority of goods, sectors and companies, no — current UK and EU sanctions prohibit or severely restrict trade and commercial engagement with Russia. A small number of specific, licensed or exempted activities may be lawful; this requires confirmation from specialist sanctions counsel, not assumption.
No. We do not provide sanctions advice and do not work on structuring activity to circumvent sanctions under any circumstances. Any engagement would require independently confirmed, lawful sanctions compliance before commercial work begins.
To be factually clear about the current position rather than silent on it, to remain available to the limited set of genuinely compliant activities, and to provide an honest reference point should sanctions change in future.
Specialist sanctions and export-control legal counsel. We would expect written confirmation of lawful compliance before considering any commercial engagement connected to Russia.
Executing the expansion
Growing from here into another market usually turns on two things: who represents you there, and what a buyer finds when they check you out.
The true cost of sales leadership
What would a UK Sales Director actually cost you?
A United Kingdom cost model: salary, employer National Insurance, pension, recruitment, vehicle and overhead, compared with fractional commercial leadership from Evans.
Takes a minute. Nothing is gated — your comparison appears on screen as you change the figures.
- 01Salary, bonus, NI, pension and recruitment
- 02Estimated first-year cash cost
- 03Fractional days, rate and annual investment
- 04Which model fits your situation
Growing from Russia into the UK, Europe or North America?
Talk through your situation directly with Tom Evans, or build a tailored market entry plan. You will get an honest view of what your expansion would take.
Prefer to speak directly?