Ceasefire talks need to yield results – Turkish leader
Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich – the owner of Chelsea football club – has been spotted inside the Istanbul talks.
In pictures broadcast by Turkish media, he is seen sitting at a table alongside Ibrahim Kalin – a spokesman for President Erdogan, and is wearing translation headphones.
He’s not at the main table of the Russian and Ukrainian delegations.
Kalin has reportedly helped coordinate meetings between the Russian oligarch and a member of the Ukrainian delegation in Istanbul hotels.
The presence of Abramovich suggests he’s still involved at some level in the mediation attempts.
Yesterday reports emerged that he suffered symptoms of suspected poisoning at peace talks on the Ukraine-Belarus border earlier this month.
Continuing with his welcome, Recep Tayyip Erdogan says there is a lot resting on the talks.
He says a “fair peace” will not have a loser and that the conflict continuing benefits no one.
“At such a critical time we are pleased to welcome you and to contribute to your efforts to establish peace,” he says, adding: “I wish that our meetings and discussions will prove to be auspicious for your countries, our region and all humankind.”
He has called for an immediate ceasefire and says stopping the tragedy is up to both sides.
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