Roman Abramovich meets Zelensky in Kyiv amid Ukraine war tensions

Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich, 59, traveled to Kyiv on 21 May for a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. The visit, reportedly approved by President Vladimir Putin, sparked criticism from hard‑line Russian war supporters who questioned whether it signaled a willingness for direct talks or compromise. Abramovich, known for mediating previous prisoner exchanges and helping broker the 2022 grain‑export deal from Black Sea ports, has long been targeted by antisemitic attacks and portrayed by some Russian nationalists as a key opponent of a "serious war" within Putin’s circle.

At a separate forum in Farnborough, former Ukrainian army chief Valeriy Saluschnyy described Ukraine as a "laboratory of modern warfare," warning that critical infrastructure worldwide is increasingly vulnerable to drones, cruise missiles and robotic weapons. He urged governments to provide defensive systems not only to militaries but also to civilian sectors. Saluschnyy cited recent Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil refineries, logistics hubs and Black Sea shipping, while noting the war has already caused roughly 600 000 casualties, with 450 000 on the Russian side, and the destruction of over 4 000 Russian tanks. Analysts, including the Harvard Belfer Center, see no clear turning point in the conflict despite slowed Russian advances.