Putin cautions oligarchs: Prepare for protracted conflict
Vladimir Putin held a closed-door meeting with prominent Russian oligarchs. According to the independent portal Meduza, he warned them not to expect a swift conclusion to the war with Ukraine. Putin is also said to have stated that the negotiation process "will be long and complicated."
The meeting took place before Putin's conversation with Trump, which was held on Tuesday, 18th March.
During the closed session of the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs (RSPP), Putin highlighted the complexity of the situation surrounding Ukraine. "The President advised us not to be naive and to understand how many people and interests are involved in the ongoing processes," one of the participants of the meeting conveyed.
Another participant added that Putin believes that the United States and the West "will find a way to pressure us, even if the sanctions are lifted". Another interlocutor emphasized that Putin mentioned that "this machine (the war with Ukraine - ed.) cannot be easily stopped".
Putin warns oligarchs: "Don't be naive"
Putin also reportedly warned the oligarchs "not to celebrate prematurely and not to count on the sanctions being lifted tomorrow."
The Russian daily "Kommersant" reports that during the mentioned meeting, Putin stated that Russia will not claim rights to "Odessa and other territories" of Ukraine, if during peace negotiations, the annexed Crimea, the self-proclaimed republics of Donetsk and Luhansk, as well as the partially occupied Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions, are recognised as Russian territories.
"Full freedom of trade, payments, and capital flows cannot be expected," added Putin.
