The political kitchen surrounding ceasefire negotiations in Ukraine continues to simmer, and this time, one of the wealthiest people on the planet—Roman Abramovich—has found himself at the center of attention. His recent visit to Kyiv, first spotted and then confirmed, turned out to be not just a business trip but part of a complex diplomatic game initiated by the Russian leadership.
Who Sent the Oligarch?
According to information obtained from sources, the initiative for the meeting came not from the Ukrainian side, but from Moscow. The Russian leadership decided to send Abramovich to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy with a specific goal: for him to hear Ukraine's position personally, "with his own ears," and convey this information directly to the Kremlin.
As a source told RBC-Ukraine, doubts arose in Moscow regarding the reliability of information they receive from intermediaries. "They seem to doubt that some partners are telling them and us the same thing, particularly the Americans. Therefore, it was stated that they want to hear our position directly," the source noted.
What Did Zelenskyy Tell Abramovich?
When Roman Abramovich arrived in Kyiv, he received detailed explanations from the Ukrainian president regarding how Kyiv views ending the war. The main condition for Zelenskyy remains a personal meeting with Russian leader Vladimir Putin. The President of Ukraine believes that only direct dialogue at the highest level can lead to peace.
However, according to the source, both proposed options—public and private—received a clear answer: Putin wants to continue the war. "We have no problems using any channels that might work. But Putin wants to fight—that's all," the publication's interlocutor summarized.
Counterattack in the Press
Events developed rapidly. Last week, Volodymyr Zelenskyy sent an open letter to Vladimir Putin proposing a personal meeting to discuss the terms for ceasing hostilities. In response to this letter, the Russian leader stated that the Ukrainian authorities had apparently recently invited a Russian oligarch to deliver a certain message. Putin did not name the intermediary in his speech, but the media quickly found out that it was indeed Roman Abramovich.
Key Message: We Will Not Give Up Donbas
In an interview with Sky News, the President of Ukraine confirmed the meeting with Abramovich but made important clarifications. Zelenskyy emphasized that the oligarch arrived in Kyiv at Russia's initiative and delivered a message from Putin. In response, Abramovich was given a key signal for Moscow: Ukraine will not give up Donbas.
At the same time, in the same interview, Zelenskyy named the fastest path to peace with Russia, which, as we already know, lies through a personal meeting of the two leaders. However, it seems this path remains closed on the part of the Russian leadership for now.