Dominic Raab urges Roman Abramovich to condemn forcefully Putin's regime

Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich was urged to publicly denounce the Russian invasion of Ukraine today amid questions over his claims to be involved in brokering a peace deal.

The oligarch, who made his fortune in post-Communist Russia, has been under fire since Vladimir Putin’s troops crossed the border and has since suggested he is relinquishing his control of the Champions League winners ahead of possible sanctions.

Last night the Russian-Israeli billionaire was believed to have flown to Belarus ahead of crunch talks between Ukrainian and Russian officials. 

His spokesman claimed the mega-rich businessman had become involved after a request from the Jewish community in Kyiv. 

But he has otherwise been silent about the deadly invasion, which is being bravely resisted by the Ukrainian people.   

Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab today demanded he denounce Putin, saying: ‘I think every right thinking person should denounce what Putin has done.’

The oligarch, who made his fortune in post-Communist Russia, has been under fire since Vladimir Putin’s troops crossed the border

Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab today demanded he denounce Putin, saying: ‘I think every right thinking person should denounce what Putin has done.’

On Saturday, amid the mounting pressure, Mr Abramovich announced plans to hand over the stewardship of his beloved Chelsea to the club’s charitable trust.

Asked if the billionaire could be key to negotiations, Mr Raab told LBC radio: ‘Who knows? I would say this, first of all, I think the prospect of diplomacy at the moment is slim but we must always make sure that we keep the door to a diplomatic resolution open.

‘It’s also true to say that the financiers who are close to Putin, the oligarchs and the like, are often one of the most important points of leverage and that’s where our sanctions have been directed and targeted.’

Mr Abramovich, 55, who is one of Russia’s richest men and is reportedly worth more than £10billion, was last week labelled as an enabler of the Putin regime by British MPs in Parliament, amid calls for powerful oligarch ‘with links to the Russian state’ to be hit with greater sanctions.

Mr Abramovich vehemently denies he is close to the Kremlin or has done anything that would merit sanctions being imposed against him.

On Saturday, amid the mounting pressure, Mr Abramovich announced plans to hand over the stewardship of his beloved Chelsea to the club’s charitable trust.

The club’s trustees are yet to accept his proposals, while experts have described the move as a ‘PR’ stunt with ‘no legal significance’.

Last night, in a surprise development, a spokesman for the Premier Club revealed that the businessman has been ‘trying to help’ in brokering a peace deal between his home country of Russia and Ukraine.

‘I can confirm that Roman Abramovich was contacted by the Ukrainian side for support in achieving a peaceful resolution, and that he has been trying to help ever since,’ a Chelsea spokesman said.

The spokesman added: ‘Considering what is at stake, we would ask for your understanding as to why we have not commented on neither the situation as such nor his involvement.’ 

Mr Abramovich was in Belarus, according to the Jerusalem Post,  though this has not been confirmed. On Sunday one of his private jets was seen flying into the Latvian capital of Riga, while another of his planes was seen travelling to Moscow yesterday. There has been no confirmation that he was on either jet.