Zelenskyy Secretly Summoned Abramovich to Deliver a Peace Proposal to Putin

Abramovich's Secret Trip to Kyiv

According to ХВИЛЯ: In May, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy invited Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich to Kyiv in a confidential effort to relay a proposal to Vladimir Putin for direct talks and a personal summit. However, the initiative fell flat as the Kremlin, convinced that Russia is winning the war, showed no interest in such a meeting. This account comes from the Financial Times, citing four sources familiar with the matter.

Abramovich quietly arrived in Kyiv on May 21 and met with Zelenskyy. The Ukrainian leader asked him to carry a message to Putin expressing readiness for face-to-face negotiations and a bilateral summit. Had it taken place, it would have marked the first summit between the leaders of Ukraine and Russia in over four years of full-scale war. The content of the message closely mirrored an open letter Zelenskyy published on his presidential website on June 4, which called for a ceasefire, a personal meeting, and discussions on peace terms. However, the tone of the message delivered through Abramovich was notably less harsh than the public letter.

Abramovich's Role as a Mediator

Since 2022, Abramovich has served as an informal intermediary between Kyiv and Moscow. He was involved in the Istanbul peace talks, prisoner exchanges-including the release of Azovstal defenders-and helped launch the Black Sea grain deal. Despite these efforts, Putin showed no interest in negotiations. As Putin’s aide Yuri Ushakov stated, the Russian leader

“sees no point in a personal summit with Zelenskyy.”

This development highlights the steep challenges facing diplomatic efforts to end the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. The Kremlin’s refusal to engage in direct talks signals that Moscow remains committed to a strategy rooted in confidence about its military gains. At the same time, Zelenskyy’s attempt to open a dialogue demonstrates Ukraine’s willingness to pursue peace-but without a reciprocal interest from Russia, the path forward for negotiations remains uncertain.

Amidst these diplomatic efforts, it's important to note that President Putin recently criticized Zelenskyy's public communication, labeling it a misstep. This development sheds light on the complexities of the ongoing negotiations and the differing perspectives between the two leaders. For a deeper understanding of Putin's response and its implications, read more about it here.