/data/photo/2022/03/12/622c6a9a90ac5.jpg?fit=%2C&ssl=1)
MOSCOW, KOMPAS.com – Kremlin confirms involvement of Chelsea Football Club owner Roman Abramovich in consultation Russia–Ukrainebut denied that he was poisoned.
The billionaire businessman, who has been placed on the Western sanctions list along with Russian oligarchs others, participate in Russia-Ukraine negotiations Tuesday (29/3/2022) in Istanbul, Turkey.
Also read: Russia-Ukraine Negotiations: Moscow Pledges to Reduce Military Operations in Kyiv and Chernihiv
RIA Novosti state news agency reported that Abramovich spoke with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday (29/3/2022) morning before the talks began.
“He is not an official member of the (Russian) delegation” in the negotiations, but “is involved in ensuring certain contacts between the Russian and Ukrainian sides”, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters. AFP.
He further said that the role required the approval of both parties, “In Abramovich’s case, have consent”.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Sunday he had accepted offers of support from Russian businessmen, including Abramovich, who owns and is seeking to sell Chelsea, and has long-standing ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Zelensky said the businessmen said they wanted to “do something” and “help somehow”, to reduce Russia’s incursion into Ukraine that has killed thousands.
Also read: How the Russian oligarchy was formed and its relationship with Putin
Sky News reported on Tuesday (29/3/2022) that Abramovich had flown from Istanbul, Moscow and Kyiv to pass messages back and forth from Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelensky.
February 28
Days after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine began more than a month ago, a spokesman for the Chelsea owner said the billionaire had been contacted by Ukraine.
“Roman Abramovich was contacted by the Ukrainian side for support in reaching an amicable resolution, and that he has been trying to help since,” said a spokesman for Chelsea’s owners at the time.
His involvement was in response to a request from Ukrainian film producer Alexander Rodnyansky, who had asked for help from individuals linked to Russia.
“Although Roman Abramovich’s influence was limited, he was the only one who responded and tried to (act) himself,” Rodnyansky said.
Also read: Many Rich Russians Escape to the United Arab Emirates, What Causes It?
March 3
The Chelsea owner attended talks in the Ukrainian capital Kyiv earlier this month, according to The Wall Street Journal.
Investigative media group Bellingcat said negotiations took place “on Ukrainian territory” and lasted until around 10pm on March 3.
Three members of the negotiating team went to an apartment in the city, where they began to feel early symptoms of poisoning, including inflammation of the eyes and skin, Bellingcat added.
“The symptoms didn’t subside until the morning,” the site said.
March 4
Bellingcat reported Abramovich and two other negotiators drove from Kyiv to the western Ukrainian city of Lviv, before heading to Poland and then Istanbul to continue negotiations.
Also read: Roman Abramovich and Ukrainian Negotiator Allegedly Poisoned During Peace Talks
10 March
According to the German newspaper imageThe Russian billionaire was part of a meeting between Sergei Lavrov, Russia’s foreign minister, and Dmytro Kuleba, his Ukrainian counterpart.
The Russian oligarch entered and left through a side door out of sight, the paper said.
March 15
Abramovich reportedly landed in Moscow after being spotted at an airport in Israel.
A jet linked to the Russian-Israeli billionaire landed in the Russian capital after a brief stop in Istanbul, en route from Tel Aviv, according to Flightradar24.
Also read: Russian Orthodox Church Leader Supports Attack on Ukraine, Calls It Spiritual War
Here we go: #RussianAssetTracker @occrp @guardian on Roman Abramovic. Going to be constantly updated. If you have more information, please, reach out… pic.twitter.com/Rg5AzsTNUy
— Frederik Obermaier (@f_obermaier) March 21, 2022
March 24
Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin’s press secretary, acknowledged Abramovich did take part in the initial peace talks between Ukraine and Russia.
However, Putin’s spokesman at the time insisted he would no longer attend the summit, which was left to diplomatic teams from the warring nations.
On Tuesday (29/3/2022), the Kremlin spokesman later confirmed Abramovich’s role while denying that the Russian oligarch was poisoned.
“This is part of information sabotage, part of information warfare,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.
“It goes without saying that these reports do not correspond to reality.”
The Wall Street Journal reported Monday (28/3/2022) that Abramovich and Ukrainian negotiators were the targets of a suspected poison attack, potentially by Moscow hardliners seeking to sabotage peace talks.
Also read: Russian-Ukrainian talks in Turkey begin, Erdogan: World awaits good news
A source familiar with the matter previously confirmed the report to AFPstating: “Unfortunately this happened, as the Wall Street Journal reported.”
After the meeting in the Ukrainian capital, Abramovich and at least two senior Ukrainian negotiators developed symptoms including red eyes, painful watery eyes and peeling skin on their faces and hands, according to sources cited by the Wall Street Journal.
Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak did not confirm the incident.
Get updates news of choice and breaking news every day from Kompas.com. Let’s join the Telegram group “Kompas.com News Update”, how to click the link https://t.me/kompascomupdate, then join. You must first install the Telegram application on your cellphone.–
