Speaking Business Russian - The key to commercial success in Russia
If you are able to speak and converse is proper business russian then it is going to put you light years ahead of your competetors. The russians are a prod people and take very kindley to those who have taken the time and effort to speak their language and communcate on their terms.
Even if during a business meeting the russian party can speak English and the meeting is held in English you are still at an advantage because often side conversations between russian conterparts will be spoken in their native tongue. These little snippets can be often the most important information because they feel they can speak candidly to each other with out you understanding what they are staying. This type of behaviour is not very professional but it happens, so it pays to be prepared for it.