Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich not sanctioned by United States after request from Ukraine president

Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelensky asked United States president Joe Biden to avoid sanctioning Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich, according to reports.

Abramovich has already been sanctioned by the UK and EU due to his link with Russia president Vladimir Putin.

In its statement announcing Abramovich’s sanction earlier this month, the British Government described Chelsea’s owner as a ‘pro-Kremlin oligarch’ and claimed he ‘has had a close relationship for decades’ with Putin.

The Wall Street Journal reports that the United States had drafted a set of sanctions for Abramovich but a phone call between Zelensky and Biden has put a halt to those plans.

The report claims that Zelensky asked Biden to hold off as there is a belief that Abramovich could be used as a ‘go-between’ during peace talks with Russia.

A spokesman for Abramovich said: ‘For the negotiations, and in the interest of them succeeding, it is not helpful commenting on the process, nor on Mr Abramovich’s involvement.

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

However, The Wall Street Journal also reports that some United States officials are dubious over Abramovich’s role in any peace talks and have doubts over how useful the 55-year-old has been during negotiations.

Last month, Ukrainian film producer Alexander Rodnyansky claimed that Abramovich ‘has been trying to mobilise support’ for peace talks.

‘I can confirm that the Ukrainian side have been trying to find someone in Russian willing to help them in finding a peaceful resolution,’ said Rodnyansky.

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