Bloomberg correspondent: Putin discussed sanctions with oligarchs

Russian President Vladimir Putin held a meeting with the largest Russian businessmen and senior officials in connection with the threat of imposing sanctions by Western countries. This was announced on Twitter by Bloomberg correspondent in Moscow Jason Corcoran. According to him, the meeting was held "to discuss what potential consequences from the sanctions and who will suffer."

There is no information about this meeting on the president’s official website.

At that time, Bloomberg reports that leading Russian businessmen seek a meeting with Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev. Press Secretary Medvedev Natalya Timakova refused to comment on the schedule of her boss, notes Bloomberg.

The intention to hold a meeting with the leaders of leading industrial corporations on Thursday morning on Twitter was reported by Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin. "The result of a conversation with our industry: possible sanctions will force it to work better. But the boomerang of sanctions will hit their Western partners," he wrote a few hours later. Rogozin did not mention participation in this meeting of Putin or Medvedev.

The fact that the European Union next week will be prepared for the introduction of new sanctions against Russia due to lack of progress in resolving a crisis in Crimea, the Federal Chancellor of Germany, Angela Merkel, announced the day before. On Monday, March 17, foreign ministers will discuss the details of the introduction of the second stage of sanctions, Merkel noted. On March 20, the EU Council will be engaged in this topic.

The United States imposed visa sanctions against persons responsible for the threat of sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine on March 6. The specific surnames appearing on the list were not called. It was emphasized that it includes both Russian and Ukrainian citizens.