Why Do Russian Oligarchs Call For Peace?

In a surprising turn of events, several Russian oligarchs have spoken out against the recent escalation of violence in the region. In an open letter to the President, these business leaders called for an end to the bloodshed and urged all parties to come to the negotiating table.

This is a remarkable development, as most Russian oligarchs have been content to remain silent on political issues. So why have they chosen now to speak up?

Why Do Russian Oligarchs Call For Peace?

It’s no secret that the Russian oligarchs have a lot of power and influence. So when some of them start calling for peace, it’s worth paying attention.

There are several reasons why the oligarchs might want peace.

First, they have a lot to lose if there is continued fighting. Their businesses and investments could be destroyed, and they could be forced to flee the country.
Second, they may believe that a peaceful resolution is in the best interests of Russia as a whole. The oligarchs are often more nationalistic than the average Russian, and they may believe that continued fighting will only lead to more damage and suffering.
Finally, the oligarchs may simply be tired of all the fighting. They may want to see a return to the days when they could focus on making money and enjoying their luxurious lifestyles.

Whatever the reasons, it’s clear that the oligarchs are an important voice in the debate over Russia’s future. And their calls for peace should not be ignored.

Friedman And Deripaska, Russian Oligarchs, Call For Peace

LONDON, 27 FEB. Mikhail Fridman and Oleg Deripaska, two Russian billionaires, called for an end to the crisis brought on by President Vladimir Putin’s attack on Ukraine, with Fridman describing it as a tragedy for the people of both nations.

In a letter to staff, billionaire Fridman who was born in western Ukraine said that the crisis was causing a gap between the historically kin eastern Slav peoples of Russia and Ukraine.

“I was born in Western Ukraine and lived there until I was 17. My parents are Ukrainian citizens and live in Lviv, my favourite city,” Fridman wrote in a letter to LetterOne staff.

“But I have also spent much of my life as a citizen of Russia, building and growing businesses. I am deeply attached to Ukrainian and Russian peoples and see the current conflict as a tragedy for them both.”

Oleg Deripaska, a Russian billionaire, urged the start of peace negotiations in a Telegram post.

The founder of the massive Russian aluminum corporation Rusal (RURAL.MM), in which he still holds shares through En+ Group, remarked on Telegram in February 2022: “Peace is very important! Talks need to be started as soon as possible!”

Deripaska declared there wouldn’t be a conflict on February 21.

Due to their connections to Putin and the allegations of Russian meddling in the 2016 U.S. election, which Moscow denies, Washington placed sanctions on Deripaska and other powerful Russians.

The so-called oligarchs of Russia, who formerly had a lot of sway over President Boris Yeltsin in the 1990s, are currently experiencing economic catastrophe as a result of the West’s harsh sanctions against Russia for its invasion of Ukraine.

Putin said that he ordered the special military operation after consulting his security council of senior officials to safeguard everybody, including Russian nationals, from “genocide” – an accusation the West labels unfounded propaganda.

Under the condition of anonymity, a second Russian billionaire claimed that the war would be disastrous.

The billionaire predicted that the scenario would be “catastrophic” in every way, including the political climate, the economy, and ties with other nations.

He claimed that when the millionaires convened on Thursday to meet with Putin in the Kremlin, they remained mute.

“Businessmen understand very well the consequences. But who is asking the opinion of business about this?” the billionaire told Reuters.

Telegram’s Founder Says He May Restrict Channels in Russia and Ukraine

In a post on his Telegram channel on 27 February 2022, founder Pavel Durov said the platform was increasingly becoming a source of unverified information about the war. He urged users in Russia and Ukraine to “question any data” spread on Telegram and said that, if the situation escalated, Telegram would consider partially or completely restricting channels in both countries for the duration of the conflict (Interfax).

The 112th richest person in the world, according to Forbes’ real-time billionaire tracker, is Durov, who is worth $17.2 billion.