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White House Reporter Scott Bixby noted that the Swiss President has said it’s “very probable” that Switzerland will follow European union in sanctioning Russia and freezing assets.
“This is a huge, huge deal,” Bixby wrote to Twitter. “Switzerland is basically Scrooge McDuck’s coin vault for Russian state/oligarch cash.”
Two Russian billionaires – Mikhail Fridman and Oleg Deripaska – have called for an end to the fighting as sanctions begin to have a financial impact on the country.
“We need peace,” the Russian industrial tycoon Oleg Deripaska said.
Talks between Russia and Ukraine must begin “as soon as possible!” he added.
The U.S. and the EU agreed to block “selected” Russian banks from the SWIFT system. Russia is also banned from EU airspace, including the private jets of oligarchs.
“Pro-Kremlin” media has also been banned from entering Europe.
European countries, including Germany, are providing lethal aid to Ukraine. This includes weapons, ammunition, and fuel.
EU foreign-policy chief Josep Borrell said they will now be providing fighter jets as well.
⚡️Russian oligarch Deripaska: 'We need peace."
In his Telegram channel, industrial tycoon Oleg Deripaska wrote that peace talks between Russia and Ukraine must begin “as soon as possible!”
— The Kyiv Independent (@KyivIndependent) February 27, 2022
This is a huge, huge deal. Switzerland is basically Scrooge McDuck’s coin vault for Russian state/oligarch cash. https://t.co/1oQbx8cXJx
— Scott Bixby (@scottbix) February 27, 2022
37 major Russian businessmen reportedly met with Putin at the Kremlin last week.
Speaking on a condition of anonymity, another Moscow billionaire told Reuters that the war was going to be a catastrophe.
“It is going to be catastrophic in all senses: for the economy, for relations with the rest of the world, for the political situation,” the billionaire said.
“Businessmen understand very well the consequences. But who is asking the opinion of business about this?”
More from RedState:
Meanwhile, the European Union plans to close its airspace to Russian airlines, fund a weapons purchase to assist Ukraine and ban some pro-Kremlin media outlets in its latest response to Russia’s invasion, European Commission officials said Sunday. It marks the first time the block would finance military equipment for a country under attack.
That news prompted the U.S. to tell any Americans in Russia to get out immediately before it shuts down.
Another hammer that may be dropping is important for a couple of reasons.
Also Monday, neutral Switzerland will consider joining other Western nations in sanctioning Russi. Swiss President Ignazio Cassis said Sunday it was “very probable” the Swiss would follow the EU’s lead and sanction Russia and freeze Russian assets in the country, Reuters reported.
Taking that step is a big statement from traditionally neutral Switzerland. It’s also true that Switzerland has a lot of Russian money squirreled away in bank accounts there. Freezing that is going to make all the money people very unhappy with Putin.
That may explain why two Russian billionaires – Mikhail Fridman and Oleg Deripaska – are calling for an end to the fighting.
