In the context of the Russo-Ukrainian war, major French corporations operating in Russia face a threefold tension: legal, economic, and ethical. This dissertation examines under what conditions maintaining business activities in Russia can be considered consistent with international law and contemporary ethical standards, even where existing legal frameworks do not mandate immediate withdrawal. Through three analytical lenses (legal risk under international humanitarian law, enhanced duty of care and anti-corruption legislation, cost/opportunity analysis weighing the consequences of withdrawal against risks linked to sanctions evasion and Russia’s growing hostility toward Western corporations and an ESG framework integrating reputational risk and alignment with France’s diplomatic stance) this dissertation offers a corporate governance perspective on the role of ethics beyond mere legal compliance, in a context framed as a civilizational confrontation.