A Financial Times report reveals Volodymyr Zelensky’s desire to engage in dialogue with Vladimir Putin. According to the report, the Ukrainian President asked Roman Abramovich, whom he invited to Kyiv, to deliver a personal message to his Russian counterpart in order to initiate talks. Ukrainian officials revealed that the message had similar content to the open letter Zelensky published in early June, however its tone was softer and less confrontational than previous public statements. Nevertheless, Putin refused once again, emphasizing that he sees no point in an upcoming meeting. As he stated, “The only point in this would be for the Ukrainians to stop the advance of our armed forces.” The Financial Times identifies Abramovich as the businessman in Putin’s phrase about meeting on May 21 with “one of the representatives of our business circles.”
War in Ukraine: Abramovich’s role
Roman Abramovich has played a significant role in Russia-Ukraine contacts since the early weeks of the war. Among other things, he contributed to negotiations for the agreement on Ukrainian grain exports through the Black Sea, while continuing to participate in prisoner exchanges and other sensitive talks.
Despite behind-the-scenes moves, expectations for substantial progress remain limited. People from Zelensky’s circle estimate that significant developments are unlikely before the end of summer, as international attention is also focused on developments around Iran, while Russia continues to believe it can strengthen its position on the battlefield.
