Prominent representatives of international business community have called on the Ukrainian and Russian governments to find a compromise and a peaceful solution of settling the current conflict.
“One of the greatest moments of our lives was the dismantling of the Berlin Wall and the end of the Cold War. Nobody wants to see a return to those dark days. As concerned business leaders from Russia, Ukraine and the West we encourage our governments to compromise and find a peaceful solution to the current conflict. If we can help in the process we’re happy to do so,” reads a document signed by 16 Russian, Ukrainian and international businessmen posted on the Web site of Virgin Corporation, the founder of which, Richard Branson, also signed the document.
Along with Branson, the document was signed by the co-founder of PayPal Max Levchin, Head of Concorde Capital Investment Company Ihor Mazepa, President of KM Core Evgeni Utkin, the founder of EastOne Group Victor Pinchuk, the co-founder and head of WhatsApp Jan Koum (all from Ukraine), Head of Novikov Group Arkady Novikov, CEO of Svyaznoy Group Dennis Ludkovsky, the founder of ROLF Group Sergey Petrov, the founder of Foodline Group Maxim Ivanov, President of All-Russian Insurance Association Igor Yurgens (all from Russia), the founder of Mo Ibrahim Foundation Mo Ibrahim, Head of Unilever Paul Polman, the founder and first president of eBay Jeff Skoll, Nobel Laureate Muhammed Yunus and Chairman Emeritus of Tata Sons Ltd Ratan Tata.
“Nearly a quarter of a century after the end of the Cold War, it looks like we are entering a new era marked by deteriorating relations and armed confrontation. This is not the world that any of us envisioned… We as business leaders from Russia, Ukraine and the rest of the world urge our governments to work together to ensure we do not regress into the Cold War misery of the past… As a group of global business leaders, we would like to offer whatever support we can to help resolve this violent conflict. We appeal to other business leaders everywhere to open up a dialogue to create ways to resolve the issues peacefully. Conversations, not armed conflict are critical at this juncture,” reads the address.
