Guy Faulconbridge

LONDON (Reuters), – A billionaire Russian businessman Mikhail Fridman wrote to his staff saying that Ukraine’s conflict is causing a divide between Russia and Ukraine, who are brothers since centuries.

The Russian president Vladimir Putin invaded Ukraine in a massive attack on February 24, just after recognizing two Russian-backed rebels as independent.

According to him, he was directing the operation to safeguard people (including Russian citizens) from “genocide”, a charge the West regards as baseless propaganda.

The Financial Times first published a letter from Fridman. He was born in Ukraine in 1964 and earned billions of dollars in Russia following the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991.

“I was born and raised in Western Ukraine. I resided there until my seventeenth year.” Fridman, whose letter was excerpted by Reuters, wrote that his parents were Ukrainian citizens.

But I also have spent a lot of my time as a Russian citizen, growing and building businesses. “I am very attached to both the Ukrainian and Russian peoples, and I see the conflict as a tragedy.

On Sunday, Russian armor pushed into Ukraine’s second largest city. Explosions rocked the oil and gas facilities on the fourth day in the most serious attack on an EU state since World War Two.

Alfa Group includes Russia’s leading private bank Alfa Bank, and the largest Russian food retailer X5 Retail Group. Fridman is also the owner of Alfa Group with his partners.

Alfa and Fridman didn’t respond to inquiries for comment.

Fridman also founded LetterOne (or L1) which made long-term investment of over 25 billion pounds (33.5 billion dollars) in the energy, retail and technology sectors.

Fridman stated, “I don’t make political statements. I am a businessman who has responsibilities for my many thousands employees in Russia or Ukraine.” “I believe, however, that no war is the right answer.”

This crisis will endanger lives and cause damage to two countries that have been close for many hundreds of years.  Although a solution may seem impossible, I am able to join the many who desire that all bloodshed ceases. I’m sure my partners share my view.”

Pyotr, one of Fridman’s longtime partners, was at a Kremlin gathering with Putin, and other Russian billionaires, Russia’s TASS news media reported.

($1 = 0.7460 pounds)