Vladimir Putin has reportedly asked Russia’s oligarchs to donate to the country’s defence budget in order to continue his unlawful war in Ukraine. Russia’s aim is to secure full control of Ukraine’s eastern Donbas region and the war is likely to continue until that goal is achieved, the Financial Times reported. And at least two businessmen have allegedly told Putin they can contribute to the war effort and the defence budget to keep funding the invasion.
While the invasion of Ukraine will continue, as the latter refused the Russian maximalist demand to give up the Donbas during recent negotiations, Russia will be again in contact with the US to start talks on a peace settlement as soon as conditions allow, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said. Western experts and officials doubt Russia intends to strike a fair peace deal with Ukraine.
Russia economy minister, Maxim Reshetnikov, said the country was considering another windfall tax this year if the rouble continues to weaken. Russia raised Rbs320bn (£2.95bn) through a one-off 10% windfall levy on some large companies in 2023.
VAT was also increased in January to 22% in a bid to raise an extra Rbs600bn from small and medium-sized businesses, while the Kremlin’s defence bill soared 42% to hit Rbs13.1tn last year.
Ukraine rejected a peace deal that involves Kyiv unilaterally withdrawing from the eastern Donbas region and handing it over to Russia, President Zelensky said in an interview with Axios. Zelensky also said he was ready to discuss troop withdrawals, but called on Moscow to pull its forces back by an equivalent distance and has rejected Russia’s claims over the Donbas region.
Mr Zelensky also appeared to take a swipe at Donald Trump, insisting it was « not fair » that the US President continued to publicly call on Ukraine, not Russia, to make concessions on peace. He also noted that Washington and Kyiv have agreed that any deal must be put to a referendum of the Ukrainian people. However, if that agreement involves Ukrainian troops withdrawing from Donbas, it would be voted down, he warned.
It was also believed peace talks hit a setback earlier in February after a surprise meeting between American and Russian negotiators in Florida without Ukraine. Donald Trump‘s envoy, Steve Witkoff, met Russia‘s special envoy, Kirill Dmitriev.
Neither the White House nor the Kremlin have said what was discussed, but Mr Witkoff said on social media that the meeting was « productive and constructive ».
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