Report: Viewing Abramovich as mediator, Ukraine asked US not to sanction him

Earlier this month, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky asked US President Joe Biden to leave Russian-Israeli billionaire Roman Abramovich off Washington’s sanctions list in the hopes that the oligarch would be able to help mediate between Kyiv and Moscow, according to a Wednesday report.

The request was made during a call between the two leaders, The Wall Street Journal reported, citing people familiar with the matter.

The Journal said the White House had been slated to announce sanctions against Abramovich shortly thereafter, in tandem with similar penalties introduced by the EU and UK, as the West punished oligarchs in an effort to pressure Russian President Vladimir Putin to withdraw his forces from Ukraine. But after the Zelensky call, the National Security Council directed the Treasury Department to hold off on the announcement, the report said.

While the EU and UK both went forward with their sanctions against Abramovich, freezing his assets in their jurisdiction, which include London’s Chelsea Football Club, the US has thus far refrained from following suit.

The White House National Security Council declined to comment on the report but State Department Spokesman Ned Price said, “There are a number of channels through which our Ukrainian partners and their Russian counterparts can engage in dialogue and diplomacy.”

A spokesman for Roman Abramovich also did not deny that the oligarch was seeking to mediate between Russia and Ukraine. “For the negotiations, and in the interest of them succeeding, it is not helpful commenting on the process nor on Mr. Abramovich’s involvement,” he said.

“As previously stated, based on requests, including from Jewish organizations in Ukraine, he has been doing all he can to support efforts aimed at restoring peace as soon as possible.”

But unnamed US officials told the Journal that they are not convinced Abramovich has been helpful in the talks between Russia and Ukraine and intelligence assessments drew the same conclusion.

Abramovich has been one of the only oligarchs who has spoken out publicly about his efforts to push Moscow to reach a peaceful resolution. This may be what drew Ukraine to ask the US not to sanction the billionaire with ties to Putin.