What truly lies behind this visit by Abramovich and why does the billionaire need the role of a mediator — TSN.ua investigated.
Abramovich has once again become a mediator: all that is known about the oligarch’s visit to Kyiv / © TSN
Contents
Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich has reappeared in the Ukrainian information space. Domestic media were stirred by the news that Abramovich visited Kyiv.
The oligarch, whose status as a “private mediator” between the Kremlin and Bankova has been ongoing since the first weeks of the full-scale invasion in 2022, brought a personal message from Putin and took President Zelensky’s response back to Moscow.
What is known about these negotiations, who was actually the initiator of this meeting, and can the oligarch’s “shuttle diplomacy” move the negotiation process forward? TSN.ua delved into the details of the visit.
A secret visit without cameras, which Putin himself “leaked”
The first to talk about the oligarch’s visit to Kyiv was the Russian dictator Putin himself. At his St. Petersburg Economic Forum, the dictator said that at the end of May, “one of the representatives of Russian business circles” called him and informed him that he had been invited to Kyiv. The dictator did not disclose the identity of the interlocutor but noted that he had known him for a very long time and called him an honest man whom he trusted.
“He went to Kyiv and met with this gentleman — the author of this letter (referring to Zelensky’s letter to Putin — Ed.). He was at his residence there,” Putin explained.
According to the dictator, after his return, the businessman allegedly conveyed to him Volodymyr Zelensky’s oral request for a meeting.
Putin claims that this meeting took place on May 21. The dictator complained that on May 22, the Armed Forces of Ukraine carried out an strike on Starobilsk. It should be recalled that Russian propaganda claims that students, not Russian occupants, died as a result of the strike.
Putin did not name the businessman, but later his assistant Yuri Ushakov hinted that this person was “quite well-known.”
Immediately after this “leak,” MP Oleksiy Goncharenko reported that the businessman who met with President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv was Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich.
After this, Volodymyr Zelensky, in an interview with Sky News, officially confirmed that Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich had secretly visited Kyiv on a behind-the-scenes mission from the Kremlin.
According to him, Abramovich asked for it to be done quietly, without any publicity.
According to Goncharenko, Putin deliberately destroyed this communication channel when he announced it to the whole world.
“It is obvious that this communication channel is destroyed. Because it was supposed to be quiet. And Putin deliberately talked about it,” the MP suggested.
What Russia demanded and what answer Zelensky gave
According to Zelensky, Abramovich came because he wants to understand “what we are ready to do” when it comes to peace negotiations. In particular, it was again about the surrender of the Donetsk region.
But Zelensky assured that he would not give Donbas to Russia.
“This was the key message. I said that we will not go for this. We will not give you victory this way,” the head of state assured regarding the fate of the Donetsk region.
According to Zelensky, he is ready to discuss all compromises only after a ceasefire. “A ceasefire is the biggest compromise from our side to your side,” he noted.
What is the real reason for the visit: versions
There is a version that the Russians sent Abramovich to Kyiv so that he could directly learn Ukraine’s position and convey it to Moscow. This is reported by “RBC-Ukraine” citing an informed source in the government.
“They seem to have doubts that some partners are telling them and us the same thing, including the Americans. So it was stated that they want to hear our position directly,” the source explained.
Oleksandr Leonov, Executive Director of the Center for Applied Political Studies “Penta,” expressed the opinion in a commentary to “Hromadske Radio” that Abramovich may represent the interests of the entire Russian oligarchy before Putin.
After all, at the moment, the Russian economic elite is dissatisfied with the situation in Russia and understands where the Russian economy is heading. Accordingly, he can convey certain arguments to the Russian dictator about the need for negotiations, not escalation.
Former Foreign Minister, diplomat Pavlo Klimkin, explains in an interview with liga.net that there are less significant figures for conveying messages. The main fact is that a conversation between Zelensky and Abramovich actually took place.
“If Abramovich came to Kyiv or met there on other platforms — then it is, in fact, about discussing what, first, the story of further negotiations might look like. Second, what red lines do we have, what red lines does Putin have. Third, who can be a mediator in some individual stories between us, what can be the sequence of steps. After all, we understand that at some point we will come to a ceasefire: it will not be sustainable, and Putin will continue to push the story about an agreement he needs,” Klimkin explained.
What Abramovich himself thinks about the negotiations
Officially, the businessman has not commented on the fact of the negotiations. However, according to the Financial Times, he allegedly told his entourage after his visit to Kyiv that Volodymyr Zelensky “thinks he can solve all problems with the magic of his personal charisma at a meeting of leaders.” That is, during personal negotiations with Putin.
“Abramovich calls Zelensky’s aspirations a ‘captain’s competition,’ by analogy with KVN, in which the Ukrainian president appeared before he engaged in politics,” the article states.
“Putin is not interested in this at all. And it doesn’t work on Trump either. But Zelensky is completely obsessed with it,” a source for the publication added.
The Abramovich phenomenon: why he remains the “unsinkable” mediator
Abramovich has acted as a mediator in negotiations between Russia and Ukraine since the first weeks of the war. The oligarch participated in mediation at the round of negotiations in Istanbul. Abramovich also allegedly helped conclude the agreement that guaranteed the export of Ukrainian grain through the Black Sea.
According to the FT, Abramovich’s role has become less prominent since Russia began direct negotiations with the United States last year. However, he allegedly continues to participate in prisoner exchanges and other bilateral negotiations with Ukraine.
According to political scientist Oleksandr Leonov, mentioned above, the reason for Abramovich’s indispensability is his personal closeness to Putin.
“I think he can meet one-on-one with Putin and convey information to him. He is a person who actively worked in the West and moves freely around the world,” emphasized Oleksandr Leonov.
Former Foreign Minister Klimkin also notes one unique advantage of Abramovich: “He can always meet with Putin and get direct instructions. And he can speak much more flexibly and broadly than those Russian representatives who were at semi-official negotiations and who are actually pushing their own agenda based on direct instructions from Putin.”
According to Klimkin, conversations with Abramovich may be “much more important” than with representatives of the Russian Federation in Istanbul and at other platforms.
“I would not underestimate this story. As far as I’m concerned, the fact that Putin allows Abramovich to work on our issues is an important story,” the former minister added.
Why the billionaire needs this
Abramovich ranks 377th on Forbes’ list of the world’s richest people. His fortune is currently estimated at $9.3 billion. So, why does he need Ukraine then?
Ukrainian film and television producer Oleksandr Rodnyansky, who worked in the Russian Federation for a long time, says that he was the one who proposed Abramovich to be a mediator. This is reported by “Vazhniye Istorii” (Important Stories).
According to him, Abramovich initially refused.
“He said: ‘You are dragging me into something where I don’t want to be. I’m not Borya (Boris Berezovsky — a Russian politician and oligarch who criticized Putin and whom the dictator declared wanted and who died under strange circumstances — Ed.)'” Eventually, the businessman agreed.
According to the publication, on February 24, 2022, Abramovich was at his estate in southern France, The Financial Times wrote. He immediately flew to Moscow on a private jet to make it to Putin’s meeting with businessmen. Abramovich was late but met with Putin in person and received his “approval” to participate in negotiations. A few days later, the oligarch allegedly met with representatives of the Ukrainian authorities in Warsaw. The parties agreed that Abramovich would be a neutral mediator who would help establish the process of finding a peaceful solution but would not interfere in political issues.
The publication presents two versions of why Abramovich “got involved” in the negotiation process.
-
The first, naive one. He is doing it sincerely, to end the war.
“He is humane. For him, the war is not just an unacceptable continuation of political confrontations, but it is unacceptable from a human point of view, because people are dying,” said Oleksandr Rodnyansky.
-
He wants to protect his assets and get out from under sanctions.
In March 2022, Bellingcat and the Wall Street Journal reported that Abramovich was even allegedly poisoned due to his involvement in negotiations. Sources for the Wall Street Journal believed that the poisoning was arranged by “some forces in Moscow” who wanted to disrupt the negotiations. However, this is just a version that has no confirmation.
Recall, Volodymyr Zelensky announced that Roman Abramovich’s billions may go to Ukrainian air defense. This refers to £2.4 billion from the sale of the Chelsea football club.
Comments Sort: New Old Popular Submit