Poison mystery deepens as Abramovich attends talks

Don’t eat or drink at peace talks, warn Ukrainians

- Nicholas Cecil, David Bond and Will Stewart

ROMAN Abramovich made a surprise appearance at peace talks between Russia and Ukraine in Turkey today after he was reportedly poisoned.

The billionaire owner of Chelsea FC was seen inside the Dolmabahce Palace in Istanbul. His exact role at the gathering remained unclear.

However, he was seen in footage broadcast by Turkish media, sitting and wearing translation headphones at a table near Ibrahim Kalin, a spokesman for Turkish President Erdogan.

Mr Kalin has reportedly helped to set up meetings between Mr Abramovich and a member of the Ukrainian delegation in Istanbul hotels, according to the BBC. He looked healthy and to have recovered from the alleged poisoning earlier this month.

The oligarch, who has been sanctioned by Britain because of his links to Vladimir Putin’s regime, and two Ukrainian negotiators reportedly developed red eyes, painful tearing, and peeling skin on their faces and hands in Kyiv after a day of negotiations, according to the Wall Street Journal.

Mr Abramovich, who is seeking to sell Chelsea, is said to have received hospital treatment in Istanbul and has recovered.

The WSJ reported that the suspected attack may have been orchestrated by hardliners in Russia who wanted to sabotage the peace talks, with one suggestion they may have used a nerve agent.