Russian tycoon Oleg Deripaska has called for a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine and criticized Moscow’s excessive war spending in a recent interview with Japanese media. He emphasized the need for an immediate truce to end the ongoing conflict.
Deripaska condemned Russia’s estimated $211 billion defense budget and referred to the war in Ukraine as “mad.” Previously under British sanctions for alleged ties to President Putin, he warned against the destruction of Ukraine as a “colossal mistake” following the invasion in February 2022.
In response to his criticism, a Russian court seized Deripaska’s luxury hotel complex later that year, possibly as part of the Kremlin’s retaliation. Despite facing sanctions from the US, EU, UK, and Australia, Deripaska praised Russia’s trade with Asian countries like China and India, highlighting its significance in sustaining the economy.
Deripaska’s aluminum giant Rusal has been under sanctions since 2018 for activity in Crimea and Ukraine. Despite the challenges, he remains optimistic about the future of Russian trade relations with Asian nations amid the ongoing geopolitical tensions.