Roman Abramovich, a Russian billionaire, attended peace talks between Russia and Ukraine in Turkey.
He was spotted conversing with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who is serving as a mediator in the Istanbul negotiations.
Mr. Abramovich and two Ukrainian negotiators had shown poisoned symptoms after negotiations in early March, according to reports.
Mr. Abramovich is said to have flown between Moscow and Kyiv for weeks in a mediation role.
According to rumors, the Chelsea football club owner suffered from sore eyes and peeling skin but has since recovered.
According to a Wall Street Journal report, he and the Ukrainian negotiators were targeted by Russian hardliners in Kyiv on March 3, although a Ukrainian presidential official later stated that the two Ukrainians were well and that one of them had denied the claim. On Tuesday, Russian presidential spokesperson Dmitry Peskov slammed the article, calling it false and part of an “information war.”
Dmytro Kuleba, Ukraine’s foreign minister, told national television hours before the talks that he had told his colleagues attending the talks with Russia not to eat or drink anything. The discussions in Istanbul began early on Tuesday, with President Erdogan calling for a cease-fire and peace in his opening remarks:
“No one’s interests are served by prolonging the conflict,” he told the two delegations at Dolmabahce Palace, pressing them to produce real outcomes.
Also read: Ukrainian Welder Donates Pickup Trucks For War
Prior to the start of the discussions, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that his country was ready to proclaim neutrality, which is one of Russia’s main requests.
Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, one of his principal negotiators, stated emphatically that “we do not trade people, land, or sovereignty.”
At the meeting, Russian state news agency Ria Novosti published a photo of Mr. Abramovich speaking with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu.
He was also seen on Turkish television, wearing headphones and listening to a translation beside Mr. Erdogan’s spokesman Ibrahim Kalin.
They weren’t seated at the Russians’ main table.
They were not seated at the Russian and Ukrainian delegations’ main table.
Mr. Abramovich’s actual participation in the talks is unclear, while Ukrainian media reported that he was there as a neutral party.
He was not an official member of the Russian delegation in Istanbul, according to the Kremlin spokesman, but he was active in facilitating interactions between the two delegations.
“I have no idea what Mr. Abramovich is claiming or doing,” Ukraine’s UK ambassador Vadym Prystaiko said of his attendance in Istanbul.
He is not a member of the negotiating group.
.”I’m not sure if he’s trying to buy his way out or if he’s actually useful; it’s difficult to tell.”
In recent days, the businessman’s boat Eclipse has been spotted anchored in the Turkish port of Marmaris.
After the UK government sanctioned him and several other Russian oligarchs who gained their fortunes in the 1990s, he placed Chelsea up for sale earlier this month.
Mr. Abramovich, who holds Israeli citizenship, is said to have flown by private jet from Tel Aviv to Moscow on March 14, 11 days after the alleged event in KyivIn recent years, a number of Kremlin foes have been mysteriously poisoned, notably Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, who was poisoned in Siberia with a nerve weapon, and leftist agitator Vladimir Kara-Murza, who survived two attacks.
The Kremlin has categorically rejected any connection.
Viktor Yushchenko, a pro-European presidential candidate in Ukraine in 2004, survived a dioxin attack that deformed his face.
Russia has denied any participation in the incident.
