Russian President Vladimir Putin has personally approved Roman Abramovich’s participation in Russian-Ukrainian talks, the Financial Times has claimed, citing sources.

After receiving the president’s approval, the billionaire met with a senior official from Zelensky’s office to help organize the talks.

Western officials, according to the newspaper, question Abramovich’s involvement in organizing the talks. And some of them suggest that he exaggerated his involvement in the process to avoid sanctions, the newspaper notes.

The Kremlin confirmed that Roman Abramovich took part in the negotiations between Russia and Ukraine at the initial stage. This was stated by the press Secretary of the Russian President Dmitry Peskov.

“Indeed, he took part in the initial stage,” Peskov replied to the journalist’s question.

At the same time, the Kremlin spokesman ruled out Abramovich’s participation in the talks at this stage “the negotiations are being conducted between two negotiating teams – Russian and Ukrainian.”