Zelensky Confirms Secret Meeting With Abramovich in Kyiv as Backchannel to Putin
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed he met privately in Kyiv with Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich, using the encounter to relay to Vladimir Putin that Ukraine will not cede its eastern Donbas region. Abramovich, who previously mediated early 2022 peace talks, traveled to Kyiv to assess what Ukraine was willing to offer to initiate negotiations. The disclosure highlights ongoing informal diplomatic channels even as Putin publicly dismisses the prospect of talks.
Zelensky confirmed in a Sky News interview broadcast Sunday that he held a private meeting in Kyiv last month with sanctioned Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich, describing it as 'not a secret' despite Abramovich's initial request for confidentiality. The core message Zelensky said he conveyed was that Ukraine would not surrender or withdraw from the Donbas region, directly countering Putin's stated precondition for ending the war. Putin had previously acknowledged that a Russian businessman had approached him with word that Zelensky invited him to Ukraine, but publicly dismissed the overture as pointless while Russian forces continue to advance. Zelensky also reiterated his openness to a direct face-to-face meeting with Putin in a neutral setting, potentially facilitated by U.S. President Donald Trump or European leaders. He added that any territorial or political compromises could only be discussed after a comprehensive ceasefire is in place. Abramovich, the former Chelsea FC owner who remains under Western sanctions, played a similar backchannel mediation role during the failed peace negotiations in the early weeks of Russia's 2022 invasion.
What's missing
It is unclear whether Western governments, particularly the U.S. or EU, were informed of or sanctioned the Abramovich meeting, which could raise legal questions given his active sanctions status. The specific timing and full content of the meeting beyond the Donbas message have not been independently verified.
How coverage differed
The Moscow Times, operating under significant pressure from Russian authorities, presented the story in a straightforward factual manner without apparent slant toward either side, though its framing emphasizes Zelensky's firm stance and Ukraine's agency in the diplomatic exchange.
What different sources said
- The Moscow TimesCenter
Zelensky Confirms He Met With Russian Billionaire Abramovich in Kyiv
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