Kremlin: Billionaire Abramovich has an important role in peace talks

“Billionaire Abramovich used to participate in negotiations at an early stage. Now, however, the negotiations are only a matter between the two delegations of Russia and Ukraine,” Reuters news agency (UK) quoted Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov as saying.

Western governments have targeted sanctions on Abramovich and several other Russian oligarchs due to Moscow’s military campaign in Ukraine. Since the beginning of March, the US Treasury Department has been drafting a series of sanctions against Mr. Abramovich, which is expected to be announced alongside the sanctions of the UK and the European Union (EU). However, the US National Security Council later asked the Treasury Department to suspend the imposition of this order.

According to sources familiar with the matter, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky asked Biden to delay sanctions on Abramovich, who could play an important role in peace talks with Russia.

The UK and EU have both frozen Mr Abramovich’s assets. On March 10, the British Government announced the imposition of sanctions on Mr. Abramovich. Accordingly, the owner of Chelsea football club has had his assets frozen in the UK, banned from entering the UK, and not allowed to trade or do business with any individuals or organizations in this country. Some Western officials said they were unaware of Mr. Zelensky’s offer not to impose sanctions on the billionaire.

Some Ukrainian and other Western government officials are also skeptical of Mr. Abramovich’s deep involvement in the peace talks.

Abramovich’s representative said: “Mr Abramovich has been doing all he can to support efforts to restore peace as soon as possible.”