Vladimir Putin, the Russian President, has told Elvira Nabiullina, the country’s central bank governor, to remain in her role after she sought to resign amid Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Bloomberg is reporting.

Citizens aware of the discussions hinted that Putin could interpret the intended resignation as betrayal, having worked with him for nearly two decades.

In a video to the central financial institution’s workers on March 2, Nabiullina hinted on the upheaval and pleaded with the workers to keep away from “political debates” that “solely burn our vitality, which we have to do our job”.

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Describing a financial scenario she referred to as “excessive,” Nabiullina stated that “all of us would have wished for this to not occur”. 

Having worked closely with Putin for decades, Nabiullina was nominated for another five-year term as central banker in March.

Since Russia invaded Ukraine, the country has received economic sanctions that are expected to have long-term effects on the country’s economy.