Russian Oligarchs Express Concerns Over War In Ukraine, Call For It To End

Russian tycoon Oleg Deripaska, who has been known for his close ties with President Vladimir Putin, has called for the war in Ukraine to be stopped as soon as possible. (file photo)

Russian oligarchs have expressed concerns over Moscow's ongoing invasion of Ukraine as Western countries continue to slap billionaires close to the Kremlin with more sanctions over the war.

Russian tycoon Oleg Deripaska, who has been known for his close ties with President Vladimir Putin, said on Twitter on March 7 that the war in Ukraine must be stopped as soon as possible.

"We need peace as soon as possible, as we have already passed the point of no return...The entire world will be different, Russia will be different as well," Deripaska’s tweet said.

Also on March 7, in a statement addressed to workers of a steel factory in the city of Novolipetsk (NLMK), another Russia tycoon, Vladimir Lisin, said that lost lives in Ukraine were a tragedy that was hard to justify.

Lisin, NLMK's chairman and the facility’s main shareholder, called for peaceful diplomatic efforts to solve the conflict and expressed hope that the war will be stopped soon.

Wealthy Russian businessman Oleg Tinkov announced on March 6 that he is no longer a billionaire as he has lost large amounts of money after sanctions were imposed against him and Russia over the war in Ukraine. He also asked reporters not to call him an oligarch.

Last week, Tinkov and three other Russian tycoons -- Mikhail Fridman, Pyotr Aven, and Aleksei Mordashov -- who were also targeted by Western sanctions -- publicly called for a cessation of hostilities.

On March 7, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced new sanctions against 10 Russians, whom he called "complicit" in the "unjustified" invasion of Ukraine.

"This includes former and current senior government officials, oligarchs, and supporters of the Russian leadership," he said at a joint press conference with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte.

Trudeau added that the names of the sanctioned people came from a list compiled by jailed Russian opposition politician Aleksei Navalny.

With reporting by Interfax and Reuters