Gloomy Russia Billionaires See Little to Cheer in Trump’s Win

  • Some businessmen think government is too optimistic on growth
  • Tycoons see little chance Trump may ease Russia sanctions
Donald Trump in West Palm Beach, Florida, on Nov. 6.Photographer: Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP Photo
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Several Russian billionaires don’t share the optimism of Vladimir Putin’s government that Russia’s economy will keep growing at a pace most Western countries can only envy. And they see little prospect that incoming US President Donald Trump will lift sanctions.

While they don’t expect a collapse that would force Putin to end his invasion of Ukraine, half a dozen tycoons interviewed by Bloomberg News said Russia’s economy has changed significantly since the fighting started and that makes long-term targets look unreachable. Most doubted the war will end soon, even as Trump has pledged to bring it to a rapid conclusion.