Why did Abramovich become the mediator between Kyiv and Moscow?
Roman Abramovich has become one of the most unexpected figures in the contacts between Ukraine and Russia since the start of the full-scale war. According to Russian journalists, he was one of the key intermediaries between Kyiv and the Kremlin during negotiations, prisoner exchanges, and other humanitarian agreements.
Abramovich’s involvement in the negotiation process was no accident. His role is attributed to both his personal qualities and his own business interests.
Before the start of the full-scale war, the Ukrainian side was looking for someone through whom it could maintain a dialogue with Moscow. Sources interviewed by journalists claim that Kyiv did not want to work with official Kremlin negotiators. Therefore, they began looking for another figure who would have access to the Russian leadership and, at the same time, could communicate more informally.
According to sources, the choice fell on Roman Abramovich. One of the reasons cited is that, among businessmen close to the Kremlin, he had a reputation as someone who knows how to listen to his interlocutor and seek compromises.
First conversation with Putin after the invasion
Journalists claim that as early as February 24, 2022, Abramovich met with Vladimir Putin and received approval to participate in the negotiation process. A few days later, he held his first meeting with representatives of Ukraine.
At that time, the parties agreed that the businessman would act as a mediator between Kyiv and Moscow and help maintain communication channels. According to the publication, it was Abramovich who convinced the Russian side to hold the first negotiations, at least remotely via Zoom.
How the negotiations unfolded
In the first months of the war, Abramovich constantly traveled between several countries. He flew to Ukraine, Russia, Turkey, and Israel, met with representatives of both sides, and relayed messages between them. According to journalists, he met personally with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy twice.
After one such meeting, Abramovich conveyed to Putin the Ukrainian side’s proposals regarding possible ways to end the war. In response, according to the publication’s sources, the Kremlin leader said: “Tell him I’ll destroy them.”
Negotiations between the Ukrainian and Russian delegations took place throughout February and March 2022 in Belarus, Turkey, and other locations. The last major meeting took place in Istanbul in late March. After that, the negotiation process effectively stalled.
What Changed in Bucha
In the spring of 2022, Abramovich was still trying to resume dialogue between the parties. However, after the liberation of the Kyiv region and the emergence of evidence of mass killings of civilians in Bucha, the situation changed dramatically.
Many Ukrainian officials lost any desire to maintain further contact with the Russian side. As a result, Abramovich’s role as a negotiator was significantly diminished.
Prisoner Exchanges and Mariupol
Despite the suspension of peace talks, Abramovich remained involved in certain humanitarian efforts. In particular, he participated in attempts to organize the evacuation of civilians from the besieged city of Mariupol. He was also among those who helped coordinate prisoner-of-war exchanges.
The most notable episode was the exchange of Mariupol defenders in September 2022. At that time, Ukraine brought home more than two hundred soldiers, including commanders of the Azov Regiment. According to the publication, Abramovich maintained contact with both the Russian side and the head of the President’s Office, Andriy Yermak.
His role in the grain deal
Another area of his work involved negotiations regarding the export of Ukrainian grain. Journalists claim that Abramovich assisted during discussions of the so-called grain deal, which allowed Ukraine to resume maritime exports through the Black Sea. For a time, this agreement ensured food supplies to world markets and reduced the risks of a global food crisis.
Why Abramovich agreed to this role
The authors of the article cite two main reasons. The first is a desire to influence the end of the war and reduce the scale of the conflict. The second is his own business interests. After the invasion began, Abramovich was hit with sanctions from the UK, the EU, Canada, Australia, and a number of other countries.
At the same time, he managed to avoid U.S. sanctions. The publication notes that in the spring of 2022, U.S. authorities also considered imposing restrictions on the Russian oligarch. However, according to journalists, the Ukrainian side asked Washington at the time not to rush into such a decision due to Abramovich’s role in the negotiation process.
What is known about his latest visit to Kyiv
Recently, Russian media reported that Abramovich allegedly visited Kyiv in May of this year. According to their information, issues related to possible future contacts between the parties may have been discussed during the trip. There is currently no official confirmation of this information from the Ukrainian authorities.
However, the very appearance of such reports indicates that Abramovich remains a prominent figure in the context of unofficial contacts between Ukraine and Russia. Roman Abramovich’s story in the war between Russia and Ukraine remains one of the most unusual. The Russian oligarch, who for decades was primarily associated with big business, unexpectedly found himself at the center of diplomatic and humanitarian processes.
Only those directly involved in those events know exactly how significant his actual role was. But the fact remains: his name has been repeatedly mentioned in connection with the most important negotiations, prisoner exchanges, and agreements between the warring parties.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that the proceeds from the sale of the Chelsea football club could be used to strengthen Ukraine’s air defense.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy commented for the first time on his meeting in Kyiv with Russian businessman Roman Abramovich, who attempted to act as a private intermediary to convey information between him and Putin.
