Kuleba warns negotiators not to eat, drink at meeting with Russian delegates

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmitro Kuleba called on anyone who is in talks with Russia to refrain from eating or drinking during meetings, following the reports of Wall Street Journal that Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich and Ukrainian peace negotiators suffered suspected poisoning earlier this month after one of such meetings. 

“I advise everyone who is in talks with the representatives of the Russian Federation not to eat and drink during the meeting and avoid touching surfaces,” Kuleba said today.

Adviser to the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Mikhailo Podolyak, however, said that the reports on alleged poisoning of the Ukrainian delegation members is disinformation. 

He said that the Ukrainian negotiators are now holding a meeting with the Russian delegation. 

“A lot of speculation and various conspiracy theories are circulating that are not true,” Podolyak said. 

The Wall Street Journal claims that Abramovich and Ukrainian peace negotiators suffered symptoms of suspected poisoning after a meeting in Kyiv earlier this month, citing the people familiar with the matter.

“Abramovich, Ukrainian lawmaker Rustem Umerov and another negotiator developed symptoms following the March 3 meeting in Kyiv that included red eyes, constant and painful tearing, and peeling skin on their faces and hands, the people said,” said the media outlet. 

Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24. Russian and Ukrainian delegates have met several times since for peace talks. 

They are now holding a meeting in Istanbul.