It became known what Zelensky discussed with oligarchs on the evening of 23 February, and where Akhmetov went after the meeting

It became known what Zelensky discussed with oligarchs on the evening of 23 February, and where Akhmetov went after the meeting

On the evening of 23 February a meeting between President Volodymyr Zelensky and representatives of Ukrainian business took place at the Presidential Office. The president urged business to remain calm and to support the country’s economy.

This is reported in the UP article “The three longest days of February. How the great war began, which no one believed in.”

Owners of the 50 largest companies in Ukraine rushed to the meeting at the Presidential Office.

In particular, the meeting involved Hennadii Boholiubov, Borys Kaufman, Halyna Hereha, Andrii Stavnitsier, Hennadii Korban, Tomas Fiala, Serhii Taruta, Borys Kolesnikov, Vasyl Khmelnytskyi, Stepan Ivakhiv, Maksym Tymchenko, Oleh Horokhovskyi and many others.

Rinat Akhmetov and Viktor Pinchuk flew in specially from abroad for the meeting with the president.

Also present with Zelensky at the meeting with business were the head of the Presidential Office Yermak, Prime Minister Shmyhal, the president’s first assistant Shefir, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces Zaluzhnyi, head of the Main Intelligence Directorate Budanov, then-head of the SBU Bakanov, Defense Minister Reznikov and Interior Minister Monastyrskyi, and head of the State Border Guard Service Deineko.

Zelensky spoke briefly on camera and asked the press service to step outside. A moment of silence followed – some of the businessmen tensed up for fear they would once again be asked to chip in money.

Direct quote from Zelensky: “I’ll say right away that I did not gather you to ask for money. Right now it is very important that you help the state. I ask you to support the economy and support your staff. From our side we will do everything possible to resolve the conflict diplomatically… We are using all possible channels.”

At that moment, as participants in the meeting say, Zelensky looked intently toward the table where Vadym Novynskyi and Rinat Akhmetov were sitting.

Zelensky then handed the floor to the security officials.

Zaluzhnyi reported on the Armed Forces’ preparedness and emphasized that “the army is ready for any development of events.”

After the security officials, the microphone was turned on for Akhmetov, who appeared nervous.

A representative of big business told UP: “I had never seen Rinat like that. He turned red and repeated several times: ‘The most important thing is to save our people.’”

The Surkis brothers stood out among those present; they whispered to each other and sat almost opposite Zelensky.

To a few neighbors the Surkis brothers quietly said: “At four in the morning everything will start,” apparently referring to a Russian offensive. However, they did not repeat this into the microphone.

After the meeting on the evening of 23 February none of the businessmen showed either concern or reassurance, because they were confident there would be no offensive.

For example, according to sources friendly with Rinat Akhmetov, after the meeting at the Presidential Office the oligarch did not go to the airport but to a bathhouse, where he steamed off steam until late at night and allegedly tried to convince friends that there would be no war in the morning.

Author: Pavel Poltavchenko

Source: “OLIGARCH”