Putin requests budget donations from Russian oligarchs

President Vladimir Putin of Russia has reportedly requested that the nation's wealthiest individuals contribute directly to the state budget. This move aims to stabilize national finances as the conflict in Ukraine enters its fifth year following the full-scale invasion launched in February 2022. According to reports from the online media outlet The Bell and the Financial Times, Putin held a closed-door meeting with top business leaders on Thursday to discuss military funding and the ongoing war effort.