Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich spotted at Ukraine peace talks
Global News
Roman Abramovich has been “ensuring certain contacts between the Russian and Ukrainian sides,” a Kremlin spokesman said, but is not an official member of the delegation.
Soccer club owner. Ally of Vladimir Putin. Sanctioned oligarch. Could diplomatic go-between be added to the resume of Roman Abramovich?
The 55-year-old billionaire has swapped the skybox seat he once proudly occupied at his beloved Chelsea soccer club in Britain for a spot on the sidelines of negotiations between Kyiv and Moscow aimed at ending Russia’s bloody war in Ukraine.
The silver-haired oil-and-aluminum tycoon stood in the background Tuesday as Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan entered a hall packed with negotiators in a government building adjacent to the 19th century Ottoman palace, Dolmabahce, on the shores of the Bosporus in Istanbul.
It was left to Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov to try to explain Abramovich’s role.
Abramovich has been “ensuring certain contacts between the Russian and Ukrainian sides,” Peskov said, but is not an official member of the delegation. He said both sides have approved his role.
Ukraine’s ambassador to Britain, Vadym Prystaiko, said, however: “I have no idea what Mr. Abramovich is claiming or doing. He is not a part of the negotiation team.”
The talks appeared to yield a cautious step toward scaling back Moscow’s offensive when Deputy Defence Minister Alexander Fomin said Russia would “fundamentally” cut back operations near Ukraine’s capital of Kyiv and a northern city in a move to build trust.
Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said the two sides made “the most meaningful progress” since the start of the negotiations at their meeting in Istanbul.
U.S. President Donald Trump intends to preview his agenda for next year and beyond in a live speech from the White House on Wednesday night.
Five more countries and the Palestinian Authority were added to the list of countries facing a full ban on travel to the U.S., while new limits were imposed on 15 other countries.
The couple were Bondi locals and described by their loved ones as an 'honest' and 'hardworking' couple who were 'devoted' to their family.
A statement issued by the National Council of Canadian Muslims says the delegation was barred from entry by Israeli authorities as 'public safety threats.'
The lawsuit, filed in a Florida court, seeks $5 billion in damages for defamation and $5 billion for unfair trade practices.
Lai, a former media mogul and outspoken critic of Beijing, was found guilty Monday of violating Hong Kong's stringent, China-imposed national security law.
U.S. officials said talks in Berlin led to narrowing differences on security guarantees that Kyiv said must be provided, as well as on Moscow’s demand that Ukraine concede land.
Ahmed Al Ahmed jeopardized his life when he tackled one of two alleged shooters to the ground and seized his gun during Sunday’s attack on a Jewish gathering on Bondi Beach.
'They passed directly in our flight path.... They don’t have their transponder turned on. It’s outrageous,' the JetBlue pilot said in a conversation with air traffic control.
At least 11 people were shot and killed on Sunday during a Jewish holiday celebration at Sydney’s Bondi Beach, Australian authorities said, declaring it a terrorist attack.
The victim was walking about 200 metres ahead of a friend near an area known as the '560-meter rocky peak,' when the friend heard a cry for help.
Thomas Plamberger and his girlfriend, Kerstin Gurtner, were attempting to scale Austria's tallest mountain in the middle of winter, despite her inexperience.
The Canadian economy achieved a trade surplus for the first time since the trade war began, as exports rebounded and imports fell in September, according to Statistics Canada.