Zelenskyy spoke about Abramovich's role in the negotiations
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy commented on the possibility that Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich could act as a mediator between Kyiv and Moscow. According to him, such a scenario is possible only if Vladimir Putin decides to allow it, and any contacts depend on the Kremlin’s position.
Russian businessman Roman Abramovich could potentially act as a mediator in possible negotiations between Ukraine and Russia, but the final decision on this rests solely with the Kremlin. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy made this statement during his speech at the Reuters Next summit.
The head of state emphasized that any attempts at mediation cannot exist independently of Russia’s political will, particularly that of Vladimir Putin. “Putin already has his own decisions in mind,” Zelenskyy noted, commenting on the question of possible negotiation formats.
According to the president, during a previous meeting with Abramovich in Kyiv, a substantive and quite frank dialogue took place, during which the Ukrainian side clearly articulated its position. “It was a very specific and substantive dialogue,” Zelenskyy said, describing the conversation. He also added that after the meeting, Abramovich likely “understood 100%” Ukraine’s position and promised to convey it to Moscow.
Can he really influence the negotiations?
Zelenskyy did not rule out that Abramovich could, in theory, be involved in technical or consultative contacts between the parties. At the same time, the president emphasized that such things cannot happen without a decision by the Russian authorities. “He may be that kind of person, but it depends on Putin,” the head of state noted.
According to Zelenskyy, each country independently determines who can represent its interests at the level of technical negotiations or within the framework of national security advisory bodies.
Context of Previous Contacts
Roman Abramovich had previously been mentioned in the context of the negotiation process between Ukraine and Russia at the start of the full-scale invasion. He participated in informal contacts between the parties and conveyed the positions voiced during the meetings.
However, he did not have the official status of a mediator, and his role remained largely informal. Today, as Zelenskyy’s remarks suggest, the possibility of re-engaging such figures depends directly on Moscow’s political will and the overall dynamics of the negotiation process.
