ITV News Global Security editor Rohit Kachroo reports on recent Russia-Ukraine peace talks and suspected Abramovich poisoning Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich and two Ukrainian negotiators were reportedly poisoned during peace talks earlier this month in a move described as “very worrying” by the Foreign Office. The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reports that Abramovich, among other things, suffered symptoms of poisoning after the talks in Kyiv – such as peeling skin and piercing pain behind the eyes. The former owner of Chelsea FC had attended the talks at the request of Ukraine to help end the Russian invasion. The Foreign Office said the United Kingdom would “continue to assist” in imposing tough sanctions on Russian President Vladimir Putin’s regime, as well as providing defense and humanitarian assistance to put Ukraine “in the strongest possible negotiating position”. ITV News Global Security editor Rohit Kachroo analyzes what we know about the reported poisoning of Roman Abramovich At least two senior members of the Ukrainian team were also affected, according to the WSJ and Bellingcat. Bellingcat commissioned the analysis of chemical weapons from experts, who decided that the poisonings were most likely intentional. The conditions of Abramovich and others affected by the suspected poisoning are said to have improved and their lives are not in danger. The billionaire took part in the talks on March 3, having been invited by Ukraine to try to mediate for peace. For analysis by experts on this topic, listen to the Ukrainian episodes of the podcast What You Need To Know The Guardian reports that Abramovich lost his sight for a while after traveling to Istanbul and undergoing treatment in Turkey. Asked about the suspected poisoning, Ukrainian negotiator Mykhailo Podolyak said that “there are many speculations, various conspiracy theories”. Rustem Umerov, another member of the negotiating team, urged people not to trust “unverified information”. A US official claimed that an “environmental” reason was behind the illness of Abramovich and the negotiators, “For example, no poisoning”.
Peace talks took place in Kyiv earlier in March A fourth round of peace talks between the Russia and Ukraine negotiating teams is scheduled to begin in Istanbul on Tuesday. Abramovich has been ousted as Chelsea manager by the Premier League’s board following sanctions imposed on the Russian oligarch by the United Kingdom government. The Russian put Chelsea up for sale on March 2, pledging to write off the 1,5 1.5 billion debt of the Blues and channel all proceeds to a new institution for the benefit of the victims of the war in Ukraine. The club is currently in the process of finding a new owner after selecting some candidates.