Abramovich Claims Contact by Ukraine to Help Broker Peace

(Bloomberg) -- Chelsea Football Club owner Roman Abramovich is trying to help broker an end to the war in Ukraine, his spokesperson said Monday.

“I can confirm that Roman Abramovich was contacted by the Ukrainian side for support in achieving a peaceful resolution, and that he has been trying to help ever since,” spokeswoman Rola Brentlin said in an emailed statement.

The billionaire has been under pressure from U.K. politicians following the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Chris Bryant, a member of Britain’s opposition Labour Party, told the House of Commons that Abramovich shouldn’t be allowed to own an English football club.

In a tweet Monday, Bryant said: “This looks like another Russian lie in an attempt to avoid being sanctioned. If he’s so close to Putin that he can wield such influence, if he’s visited Putin this last week, he should be sanctioned now.” 

Abramovich has a net worth of about $13 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, having built his fortune from dividends and sales of privatized assets acquired from the former Soviet Union. 

Ukraine said a delegation led by its defense minister had arrived on Monday at the border with Belarus for talks with Russian officials. 

Abramovich on Saturday handed direct control of Chelsea FC to the trustees of the Premier League soccer club’s charitable foundation, publicly seeking to distance himself from one of London’s biggest sporting assets after Western leaders weighed further sanctions against Russia and its oligarchs.

The statement made no mention of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, didn’t elaborate on whether Abramovich plans to give up control of the club or whether he will ultimately resume his role.

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