March 26, 2026

Putin told major businesses that the Russian Federation will continue to fight "to the borders of Donbas." And he proposed that oligarchs voluntarily chip in for the "special military operation" - The Bell

After the congress of the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs (RSPP), Vladimir Putin held a closed meeting with major businessmen. There, he discussed with the oligarchs the continuation of the war and its financing. This was reported by two sources of The Bell. "They said we will fight," one of the publication's interlocutors paraphrased the essence of Putin's speech. "We will go to the borders of Donbas," added another. After that, Putin proposed that businessmen make voluntary contributions to the budget, both claim. Some oligarchs responded to the request right at the meeting: Suleiman Kerimov promised to contribute 100 billion rubles. According to a source from The Bell, the idea to "shake up business in a difficult time for the country" belongs to the head of Rosneft, Igor Sechin. He had previously outlined it to Putin in a letter.