Kyiv: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has reportedly asked Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich to convey a message to Russian President Vladimir Putin, expressing his willingness to meet for their first bilateral summit. This request, made during Abramovich’s visit to Kyiv last month, aims to demonstrate Ukraine’s commitment to direct peace talks with Russia, according to a report by the Financial Times.
According to Anadolu Agency, sources familiar with the discussions revealed that this move comes amid ongoing US-led ceasefire efforts, which have been overshadowed by the conflict in the Middle East. Despite these efforts, Putin stated on Friday that he had met with a business representative following a trip to Kyiv and saw no point in meeting with Zelenskyy at this time, as the businessman was not acting in an official capacity.
The Financial Times reported that Zelenskyy’s office declined to comment on the situation, and both the Kremlin and Abramovich’s spokesperson did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Abramovich has been involved in mediation between Russia and Ukraine since the early months of the war in 2022, playing a role in the Black Sea grain export agreement and facilitating prisoner exchanges and other contacts between Moscow and Kyiv.
Despite the stalled peace efforts, Zelenskyy continues to advocate for a summit with Putin. A person close to Zelenskyy mentioned that no substantial developments are expected until the end of summer. Meanwhile, a person close to Abramovich noted that Zelenskyy believes in resolving issues through his personal charisma at a leadership meeting.
Two senior Ukrainian officials revealed that the message sent through Abramovich is similar to an open letter addressed to Putin and published on Zelenskyy’s presidential website. In the letter, Zelenskyy called for direct talks with Putin and expressed Ukraine’s readiness to observe a ceasefire during negotiations. However, Putin has dismissed the idea, citing unsuccessful outcomes from previous direct contacts, while Zelenskyy accused Putin of lacking genuine interest in ending the war, a stance that has disappointed many globally.