A sanctioned Russian oligarch is trying to mediate with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky asked US President Joe Biden not to impose sanctions on Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich in order to facilitate peace talks, writes The Wall Street Journal.
In early March, U.S. Treasury officials drafted a series of sanctions to punish Roman Abramovich, a prominent Russian oligarch, following Russia's attack on Ukraine, witnesses cited by the publication say.
When is it time to announce these jointly drafted sanctions with restrictions from Britain and the European Union, the White House National Security Council asked the Treasury to postpone them.
Reason: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, during a recent phone call, advised President Biden to hold off on sanctions against the oligarch who could prove important as a broker with Russia to help peace talks, according to people with knowledge of the call.
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Biden consulted with the President of Ukraine on a number of sanctions, including the planned sanctions against Abramovich.
“We're not going to read private conversations between President Biden and President Zelensky,” said Emily Horn, spokeswoman for the White House National Security Council. The Treasury Department did not respond to a request for comment.
“It is not useful to the negotiations and in the interests of their success to comment on the process or Abramovich's involvement. As already noted, based on requests, including from Jewish organizations in Ukraine, he will do everything possible to support efforts aimed at the speedy restoration of peace,” Speaker Abramovich said in a statement.
Recall, one of the most Russia's richest people and the owner of the British football club Chelsea has a lot of high-value real estate around the world.
Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich and his family own more than 70 properties, commercial houses and land in the UK.< /p>
The Daily Mail writes about it. The publication refers to the report of the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project, which works in conjunction with various media organizations.
The number of Abramovich's properties turned out to be more than previously thought.
