Russian Invasion of Ukraine
Daghestani oligarch Suleiman Kerimov has reportedly committed over a billion dollars to President Putin’s war effort in Ukraine. Following a private meeting in Moscow, Kerimov pledged ₽ 100 billion ($1.2 billion) to Russia’s state budget, responding to a direct appeal from Vladimir Putin. The Russian President convened major businesses after a congress of the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs (RSPP) on March 26th, urging financial support for the ongoing invasion of Ukraine.
Sources for The Bell indicated that the initiative to solicit business contributions originated with Rosneft’s Igor Sechin, who presented a letter to Putin a day prior. Putin emphasized Russia’s commitment to continuing the conflict until securing all remaining areas of Ukraine’s Donbas region. Kerimov was among the initial pledges of funds.
The two-hour meeting, facilitated by RSPP head Aleksandr Shochin, addressed issues including AI regulation, the platform economy, and entrepreneur rights. Putin also discussed the situation concerning the invasion of Ukraine and the conflict in Iran. Kerimov, a member of the Federation Council, is one of Russia’s wealthiest individuals, ranking 5th in the country and 99th globally, with assets estimated at nearly $26 billion according to Forbes.
He has significant investments in banking, energy, and gold, particularly through Polyus, a leading Russian gold producer. Kerimov has faced sanctions from the US since April 2018, and subsequently from the EU and UK following the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. This commitment of a billion dollars highlights the continued support for the Russian war effort within the country.
Topics: #kerimov #billion #ukraine
The Kremlin’s request was met with a substantial contribution.