Russian leader Vladimir Putin will meet with representatives of the Russian business community on Thursday and discuss preparations for a State of the Union address, as well as the situation in the economy. This was stated to journalists by the press secretary of the President of Russia Dmitry Peskov on February 24.
“In the evening – a meeting with representatives of Russian business circles, these are the heads of our largest enterprises and companies. First of all, the president will speak with them in preparation for the message and to exchange views on the situation in the economy,” the spokesman said.
According to Izvestia sources, the meeting is scheduled for 16:00 Moscow time in a face-to-face format.
“The agenda of the meeting was not disclosed to us,” said the interlocutor of Izvestia in one of the large companies, noting that all members of the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs (RSPP) and IT companies were invited to the meeting.
A source familiar with several big businessmen told Izvestia that the meeting would be attended mainly by industrialists. He admitted that the event will discuss possible restrictions for business, as well as measures to support it.
In the current situation, large companies whose shares are traded on the stock exchange may face a margin call, the president of the Opora Rossii business association told Izvestiya. According to him, people were actively selling shares of enterprises, plus they will continue to sell papers on the market, which means that business may face difficulties. Therefore, at a meeting with Putin, support for the country’s most important enterprises could be discussed, he suggested.
The agenda may also include the issue of protecting companies that have assets abroad. For example, metallurgists have trading houses abroad, banks have “daughters”.
Earlier that day, Putin issued an emergency address and announced the start of an operation in the Donbass to protect the civilian population. According to him, the Russian side was left no choice, and its actions are not connected with infringing on the interests of Kiev, but with protecting itself from “those who took Ukraine hostage.”
The day before, the Kremlin said that the heads of the DPR and LPR asked Putin to help repel the increased aggression of the Ukrainian security forces in order to prevent a humanitarian catastrophe and civilian casualties.
Against the background of the beginning of the operation in Donbass, the Russian stock market collapsed. At the lows of February 24, the Moscow Exchange index was below the 1,700 mark for the first time since February 2016. Later on Thursday, the indices bounced back a little on the back of interventions by the Bank of Russia. The Moscow Exchange index falls by 33.88%, to 2035 points at 15:11 Moscow time, the RTS dollar index falls by 36.89%, to 774 points. The dollar exchange rate is 82.83 rubles, the euro – 91.16 rubles.
On February 21, the heads of the DNR and LNR turned to Putin with a request to recognize the independence of the republics. The corresponding decrees were signed in the evening of the same day. In the presence of the leaders of the republics, the President of the Russian Federation also signed treaties of friendship, cooperation and assistance.
Since 2014, the Ukrainian authorities have been carrying out a military operation against the inhabitants of Donbass, who refused to recognize the results of the coup d’état and the new government in Ukraine. At the same time, Kiev blames Moscow for the current situation. Russia has repeatedly stated that it is not a party to the conflict.
Source: IZ
Jane Stock is a technology author, who has written for 24 Hours World. She writes about the latest in technology news and trends, and is always on the lookout for new and innovative ways to improve his audience’s experience.
