The Ukrainian president personally appealed to Joe Biden not to sanction Roman Abramovich in the hope that the billionaire could act as an intermediary in peace talks with Russia, it was reported.
The US Department of the Treasury was set to announce the freezing of the Chelsea Football Club owner’s assets in tandem with the UK and EU earlier this month when the White House’s national security council abruptly shifted course.
Volodymyr Zelensky is reported by The Wall Street Journal to have asked the US president to hold off, believing that the Russian oligarch – and alleged Kremlin ally – might prove important as a go-between.
Earlier this month, Mr Abramovich had all his assets frozen in the UK, while the US has already targeted wealthy oligarchs with its Western allies in an attempt to raise pressure on Vladimir Putin.
According to public flight data, Mr Abramovich’s private jets have travelled between Russia, Turkey and Israel in recent weeks.
The oligarch, who also holds Israeli and Portuguese citizenship, feels that his standing in the Russian business community can help impact negotiations between the two warring nations, a person close to him told The Wall Street Journal.
“For the negotiations, and in the interest of them succeeding, it is not helpful commenting on the process, nor on Mr Abramovich’s involvement,” a spokesman for Mr Abramovich said in a statement.
“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, US officials told The Wall Street Journal that they have “no reason” to believe he has been helpful in the talks between the Ukrainian and Russian governments, and intelligence assessments “have, in fact, suggested otherwise”.
It came as the US, for the first time, said it could confirm Moscow had committed war crimes during its month-long invasion of Ukraine.
Antony Blinken, the US secretary of state, said a US government analysis had concluded that attacks on civilian targets, including a maternity hospital and theatre in the besieged city of Mariupol, amounted to war crimes.
He said in a statement: “Our assessment is based on a careful review of available information from public and intelligence sources. We are committed to pursuing accountability using every tool available, including criminal prosecutions.”
Renault to pull out of Moscow following Kyiv protest
Earlier on Wednesday, Mr Zelensky said that Renault, the car manufacturer, must “stop sponsoring murder” as he addressed French politicians on the eve of the war’s one-month anniversary.
The company announced on Wednesday night that it would immediately suspend operations at its Moscow factory after the calls for the boycott.
Renault is also considering “the possible options” for its Russian affiliate AvtoVAZ, the company said in a statement, adding that it had downgraded its 2022 financial outlook.
The Ukrainian president also criticised Leroy Merlin, the French DIY chain which operates more than 100 stores in Russia.
He said: “French companies must quit the Russian market. Renault, Auchan, Leroy Merlin and others must stop being the sponsors of Russia’s war machine. They must stop financing the murder of children and women; the rape.”
While major international brands including Ikea, H&M and McDonald’s have suspended their Russian operations since the invasion began on Feb 24, the French companies mentioned by Mr Zelensky have so far stayed put.
Auchan, a supermarket chain, and Leroy Merlin are part of the Mulliez group, which employs more than 76,000 people in Russia, according to the consumer news site LSA, making it France’s largest employer in the country.
Renault paused some operations at its Russian plants after the invasion, citing component shortages. However, work resumed at its Moscow facilities on Monday, in marked contrast with rivals that have halted production, including Volkswagen and Toyota.
Germany under fire for underpowering Ukraine
Meanwhile, Germany came under pressure over its failure to provide more weapons to Ukraine.
Andriy Melnyk, Ukraine’s ambassador to Berlin, accused Olaf Scholz’s government of ignoring urgent requests for weapons from Kyiv.
“It is very frustrating that the federal government has not given an answer to our list of urgently needed defensive weapons for three weeks,” he told Germany’s Bild newspaper.
On Wednesday night, it emerged that Germany will send 2,000 additional anti-tank weapons to Ukraine, according to a parliamentary source quoted by AFP.
