Kremlin Denies Claim Putin Asked Businessmen to Fund Russia’s War Effort
He added that one attendee at the gathering had expressed a desire to donate what he described as a “very large sum of money” to the state.
The Kremlin has rejected claims that President Vladimir Putin asked prominent business figures to contribute funds to help shore up Russia’s finances as the war in Ukraine continues.
According to reports from unnamed sources, the independent Russian outlet The Bell and the Financial Times said the allegations stemmed from a closed-door meeting Mr Putin held with business leaders yesterday.
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Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters, “It’s not true that Putin made such a request.”
He added that one attendee at the gathering had expressed a desire to donate what he described as a “very large sum of money” to the state.
“This was absolutely his initiative, and not President Putin’s. Although, of course, the head of state welcomed such an initiative,” Mr Peskov said.
Peskov also denied that any proposed funding was intended “for the war.”
In its account of the meeting, The Bell reported that Mr Putin discussed military financing and said Russia would continue fighting until it captured the remaining parts of Ukraine’s eastern Donbas region that are not currently under its control.
The Bell further stated that billionaire Suleiman Kerimov pledged to donate 100 billion roubles ($1.23 billion) during the meeting.
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Russia faces a budget deficit and an economic slowdown as the war in Ukraine, now in its fifth year, drags on. At the same time, the country is expected to receive a significant windfall tied to a jump in oil prices following the US and Israel launching a war against Iran on 28 February.
Earlier this month, Reuters reported that sources said the government was preparing a potential 10% reduction in all “non-sensitive” spending in the current year’s budget, while any final action would depend on how durable the increase in oil prices proves to be.
Separately, Russia targeted the gas production facility of Ukraine’s state energy company Naftogaz in the Poltava region overnight. Naftogaz said the attack led to operations at the site being halted.
“A fire broke out as a result of the attack. The equipment sustained significant damage and operations at the facility have been suspended,” Naftogaz’s CEO Serhiy Koretskyi said.