Russian Billionaire Speaks Out Against War with Ukraine
Mikhail Fridman, one of Russia’s richest men, said the war in Ukraine was a “tragedy” and called for the “bloodshed” to end after President Vladimir Putin launched a full-scale invasion of the country.
In a letter sent to staff at his London-headquartered private equity firm LetterOne on Friday and seen by the Financial Times, the billionaire said he was “convinced” that “war can never be the answer”.
“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 the email. “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.”
Fridman continued: “I do not make political statements, I am a businessman with responsibilities to my many thousands of employees in Russia and Ukraine. I am convinced however that war can never be the answer. This crisis will cost lives and damage two nations who have been brothers for hundreds of years.”
“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.”
Fridman, who normally avoids making political statements, is the first Russian businessman to speak out against the conflict amid preparations for extensive US, UK, and EU sanctions against oligarchs with significant presence in the west.
Following Fridman’s statement, a second oligarch – the pro-Putin, US-sanctioned metals magnate Oleg Deripaska – released a short statement calling for an end to the war.
“Peace is very important! Negotiations must begin as soon as possible!” Deripaska wrote on Telegram.