Abramovich appears at Ukraine-Russia talks in Istanbul

By Yesim Dikmen and Daren Butler

ISTANBUL (Reuters) -Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich, who’s sanctioned by the West over Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine, made a shock look in Istanbul on Tuesday on the first direct peace talks in weeks between Russian and Ukrainian negotiators.

The 2 groups sat going through one another at an extended desk within the presidential workplace on an Ottoman palace grounds. The Russian oligarch sat within the entrance row of observers sporting a blue swimsuit, a Turkish presidential video confirmed.

In probably the most tangible signal but of progress in direction of ending the conflict, Russia emerged from the talks promising to scale down navy operations round Kyiv and the nation’s north, and Ukraine proposed adopting a impartial standing.

For Abramovich, indicators have emerged for the reason that conflict started that he has sought to encourage negotiations, and he has travelled to Ukraine, Russia, Turkey and Israel in March. Two of his superyachts are docked at Turkish resorts.

His presence initially baffled no less than one Ukrainian diplomat, whereas Moscow stated he was not formally negotiating however moderately there as a go-between and had approval from the Ukrainian aspect.

A spokesman for Abramovich didn’t reply to a request for remark. Abramovich confirmed no indicators of a reported suspected poisoning early this month.

The Wall Avenue Journal and investigative outlet Bellingcat, citing folks accustomed to the matter, stated Abramovich and Ukrainian negotiators suffered signs of suspected poisoning after a gathering in Kyiv.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov dismissed the poisoning experiences as unfaithful and a part of an “data conflict”.

NATO member Turkey shares a maritime border with Ukraine and Russia within the Black Sea, has good ties with each and has supplied to mediate the battle. Whereas calling Moscow’s invasion unacceptable, Ankara has additionally opposed the Western sanctions.

In a speech forward of the talks by the Bosphorus strait, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan advised the delegations the time had come for concrete outcomes and that progress would pave the best way for a gathering of the international locations’ two leaders.

“It’s as much as the edges to cease this tragedy. Reaching a ceasefire and peace as quickly as potential is to the good thing about everybody,” he stated.

Footage launched by Kyiv confirmed Ukrainian Defence Minister Oleksii Reznikov being warmly greeted by his Turkish counterpart forward of the talks on the Dolmabahce palace grounds.

Reznikov, who was not sporting a face masks, joked with Turkish Defence Minister Hulusi Akar that Ukraine had scrapped COVID-19 precautions when Russia invaded.

Russian forces invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24. Putin referred to as it a “particular navy operation” to demilitarize Ukraine. Ukraine and the West say Putin launched an unprovoked conflict of aggression.

SUPERYACHTS IN TURKEY

Commenting on Abramovich’s presence, Ukrainian ambassador to Britain Vadym Prystaiko advised the BBC: “I don’t know what Mr Abramovich is claiming or doing. He isn’t part of the negotiation staff.”

Peskov advised reporters on a convention name Abramovich was not an official member of the Russian delegation on the talks, however acknowledged his presence there to “allow sure contacts” between sides.

The Kremlin has stated he performed an early function in talks however the course of was now as much as negotiating groups. TV video confirmed he sat subsequent to Erdogan’s spokesman and adjusted his headphones to hearken to the president’s speech.

The West has imposed heavy sanctions on Abramovich and different Russian billionaires, Russian firms and officers, in a bid to pressure Putin to withdraw from Ukraine.

Abramovich had sought to promote his English soccer membership Chelsea, a course of that was taken out of his palms by the British authorities when it blacklisted him.

Superyachts linked to him, collectively price an estimated $1.2 billion, have been docked at Bodrum and Marmaris in southwest Turkey since final week. Sources have stated he and different rich Russians had been seeking to put money into Turkey given sanctions elsewhere.

Its potential as a protected haven for Russian funding raises dangers for Turkey’s authorities, banks and companies that might face penalties if the US and others stress Moscow with broader “secondary” sanctions.

(Further reporting by Tuvan Gumrukcu and Orhan Coskun in Ankara, Kate Holton in London, Pavel Polityuk in Lviv and Dominic Evans in Istanbul;Enhancing by Jonathan Spicer, Frank Jack Daniel and Nick Macfie)