INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
The Kremlin on Tuesday denied a report that Chelsea Football Club owner Roman Abramovich was poisoned while taking part in peace talks over
Ukraine, but confirmed he is acting as an intermediary.The Wall Street Journal reported Monday that Abramovich and Ukrainian negotiators
were targets of a suspected poison attack, potentially by Moscow hardliners seeking to sabotage peace talks."This is part of information
sabotage, part of an information war," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told journalists."It goes without saying that these reports do not
correspond to reality."A source familiar with the matter earlier confirmed the report to AFP, stating: "Unfortunately this took place, what
the Wall Street Journal reported."After a meeting in Ukraine's capital, Abramovich and at least two senior Ukrainian negotiators developed
symptoms including red eyes, painfully watery eyes, and peeling skin on their face and hands, according to sources cited by Wall Street
placed on Western sanctions lists along with other oligarchs, is participating in Tuesday's talks in Istanbul.RIA Novosti state news agency
reported that Abramovich spoke to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday morning before the talks began."He is not an official
member of the (Russian) delegation" at the negotiations, but is "involved in ensuring certain contacts between the Russian and Ukrainian
sides," Peskov said.This role requires approval from both sides, the Kremlin spokesman said
"In the case of Abramovich, the approval is there."Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Sunday his government had received offers of
support from Russian businessmen, including Abramovich, who owns and is seeking to sell Chelsea and has had longstanding links to President
