Two Russian billionaires, Oleg Deripaska and Mikhail Fridman asked for an end to the conflict started by President Vladimir Putin when he sent troops into Ukraine, Reuters reported. The agency added that Fridman noted this move was tragic for the people of both countries. 

Fridman, born in Western Ukraine, conveyed to the staff via a letter that the conflict had started driving a chasm between the eastern Slavs of Russia and Ukraine, who’d been brothers for ages, Reuters reported. 

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The agency quoted excerpts of the letter sent by Fridman, saying “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. But I have also spent much of my life as a citizen of Russia, building and growing businesses. I am deeply attached to the Ukrainian and Russian peoples and see the current conflict as a tragedy for them both”. Reportedly, Fridman also added, “While a solution seems frighteningly far off, I can only join those whose fervent desire is for the bloodshed to end. I’m sure my partners share my view”. 

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As per Reuters, Kremlin reported one of Fridman’s long-term partners, Pyotr Aven attending a meeting with other major Russian businessmen and President Putin. 

Meanwhile, Deripaska posted on Telegram, asking for immediate peace. He noted that it is critical that there be peace. Russian oligarchs are facing sanctions imposed by the NATO members as pushback against Putin’s decision to send troops into Ukraine. 

This began with the President recognizing Ukraine’s breakaway territories as independent and sending in armed forces as peacekeeping troops. Part of the sanctions against Russia has included the removal of the country’s banks from the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication (SWIFT) payment system. Currently, Russian and Ukrainian diplomats are expected to hold talks with the aim to bring an end to the conflict.