Dusseldorf According to a report by the Wall Street Journal (WSJ), Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich launched a previously unknown attempt at mediation between Russia and Ukraine and was apparently poisoned in the process. According to the Journal’s report, both Abramovich and the Ukrainian negotiators involved suffered from symptoms of poisoning after the meeting in Kyiv in early March. The Wall Street Journal cites multiple sources for the events. The report has not yet been verified.
Abramovich is one of those Russian oligarchs who are on the Western sanctions lists and is also known in the West as the previous owner of the British football club Chelsea FC. After the mediation mission in Kyiv, during which he apparently also met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, he showed symptoms such as red eyes and skin disorders. These indicated poisoning.
Two members of the Ukrainian delegation also showed these symptoms. A spokesman for President Zelensky confirmed to the WSJ that the President himself was not affected. He did not deny the meeting between Abramovich and Zelensky.
Moscow hardliners as perpetrators?
The Journal cites several sources close to the talks, who assume that the participants were poisoned. It is not yet known who is behind the possible poisoning. According to the WSJ, people close to Abramovich did not want to express any suspicion. Other sources apparently locate the culprit in “Moscow hardliner circles.” They would want to prevent any progress in talks between Russia and Ukraine.
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Abramovich is said to have conducted the actual mediation talks not with Selensky but with a group led by Crimean MP Rustem Umerov. The paper quotes unspecified “Western circles” as saying that if the symptoms are similar, an attack with chemical as well as one with biological or radioactive substances would be an option.
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