Kremlin denies Putin pressed oligarchs to fund war, calls it a personal decision

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov denied reports that President Vladimir Putin urged Russian oligarchs to fund the Ukraine war, saying any call for a large sum was a participant’s personal decision. The Financial Times cited unnamed sources; the piece notes Russia’s budget deficit and rising military spending. Reports highlighted Suleyman Kerimov as naming a 100 billion rubles contribution, with Bell noting others supported the idea and that the initiative may have originated with Putin. Peskov said the businessman justified it by ties to the state. Putin also warned oligarchs against wasting windfall oil profits.