Putin's warning to Russian oligarchs

Russia's invasion of Ukraine
Putin to oligarchs: No peace anytime soon

Emil Forsberg

Updated 21.50 | Published 20.41

Russian president on Thursday. Photo: Mikhail Metzel/AP

Vladimir Putin has met with the oligarchs behind closed doors.

There he announced that peace is not to be expected anytime soon.

Then he sent a warning.

Donald Trump still hopes to be able to broker peace in Ukraine soon – but Vladimir Putin does not seem to be in any hurry.

After the phone call with the American president, Putin met with Russia's oligarchs to discuss developments, according to the Moscow Times.

There he announced that the negotiation process could be long and drawn out.

“The president advised us not to be naive and to understand how many people and interests are involved in the processes that are currently taking place,” one of the meeting participants told the newspaper.

Repeated demands

Putin was described as “positive but objective” during the meeting.

“There was no unbridled optimism that negotiating peace would be possible quickly,” a source said.

During the meeting, Putin repeated his demand to recognize Crimea as part of Russia, but he also reportedly expressed his desire to seize four more regions that Russia does not fully control, the Russian newspaper Kommersant reported.

“If Kiev agrees to these conditions, Russia will not lay claim to Odessa and other territories in Ukraine,” Putin said.

The Russian president is also reported to have warned the oligarchs not to have inflated expectations and urged them not to hope that the sanctions they have been imposed on will be lifted in the near future.

“Even if the restrictions are lifted, the West will find ways to put pressure on Russia,” Putin said.