Sberbank CEO Herman Gref has made a rare public statement calling for the war to end as soon as possible, at a time when the debate over the economic costs of the conflict is intensifying in Russia.
"I don't think there is a single person in the country who doesn't want the military actions to end as soon as possible," Gref said.
The comments by the head of Russia's largest state bank come amid growing debate over how to finance the war. According to media reports, several political figures, including Communist Party leader Gennady Zyuganov and propagandist Vladimir Solovyov, have proposed extraordinary financial measures, including confiscating bank funds, arguing that the banking sector has benefited significantly during this period.
Gref's statement has been considered an unusual signal, as it comes from one of the most important figures in the Russian financial system and a person closely connected to the economic power structures.
Sberbank, Russia's largest banking institution, plays a key role in the country's economy. For this reason, Herman Gref's stance has attracted particular attention, as he has traditionally avoided public comments on political and military matters.
