The Financial Times: Zelenskyy once asked Abramovich to propose a meeting with Putin, but was rejected
On June 7, the Financial Times cited four informed sources stating that Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich secretly visited Kyiv on May 21 and met with Zelenskyy. Subsequently, Zelenskyy entrusted him with conveying an intention to Putin: Ukraine was willing to hold direct negotiations and a bilateral summit between heads of state.
The report noted that since 2022, Abramovich has consistently served as an unofficial intermediary between Russia and Ukraine. He participated in the Istanbul talks, prisoner exchanges (including those involving defenders of the Azov Steel Plant), and mediating efforts related to the grain agreement.
It is reported that the message conveyed this time was largely consistent with the content of Zelenskyy’s public letter to Putin on June 4: achieving a ceasefire, holding a summit between leaders, and discussing a peace plan.
On June 5, Putin confirmed at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum that he had been informed about Abramovich’s trip. “The desire of Zelenskyy to hold talks was relayed by Russian personnel upon their return to Moscow on May 21. However, early on the morning of May 22 local time, Ukrainian drones attacked a dormitory building at a college in Luhansk region,” Putin said, adding that holding a summit with Zelenskyy would be meaningless.
Notably, today Putin’s aide Yuri Ushakov publicly acknowledged that there exist non-public contacts between Russia and Ukraine beyond official channels.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1867348266053644/
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