Abramovich 'plays very positive role' in Ukraine-Russia talks – Arakhamia
David Arakhamia, head of the Ukrainian delegation at the talks with the Russian Federation, considers the role of Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich in this process to be positive, since he initially acted as an "unofficial channel of communication."
"In fact, to be honest, [the role he plays] is very positive. But I don't understand why he began to play a public role. Because from the very beginning he had such a role that in the negotiations it is called the back channel, that is, an additional communication channel, unofficial, which helps pronounce some complex things in normal human language, and not in diplomatic – what they cannot say officially. Then, thanks to the international press, this hidden channel became known to the whole world in fact. As far as I understand the position, he is no longer hiding and is no longer a back channel, but is another person in the negotiations," he said in an interview on the air of the national telethon.
Arakhamia believes that Abramovich is trying to position himself as a neutral party in the negotiation process.
"Although we do not perceive it as a neutral side. But, we can say that it is, of course, more neutral than the official side of the negotiations," the head of the Ukrainian delegation added.