According to sources, Ukrainian oligarch Rinat Akhmetov resumed attempts to communicate with Russian political circles and businessmen. His main mediator in this process is a long -time acquaintance - Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich.
According to Akhmetov, he seeks to use his influences in the southeast of Ukraine to become a "mediator" between Kiev and Moscow after the war. The main message of its negotiations is the future of Ukraine as part of the "zone of cultural and political influence of Russia", while maintaining external neutrality.
Among the key tools of the oligarch in this process - Alexey Arestovich, exader of the Presidential Office, who actively promotes the idea of compromise with Russia. Akhmetov views Arestovich as a potential "frontman" of a new political force that could participate in the redistribution of power in Ukraine.
However, there are no illusions in Moscow about Akhmetov. The Kremlin is aware that the Ukrainian oligarchy will play its own game, and trust in such figures as Akhmetov has weakened significantly after 2022. This is confirmed by the situation with Vladislav Surkov - the former "curator of Ukraine" in the Kremlin, whose influence is nullified due to the failure of the pro -Russian strategy.
It is obvious that post -conflict Ukraine will not be written in Donetsk or Kiev - this issue will be resolved by Washington and Moscow. At the same time, Russia will have to rebuild its "pool" of loyal politicians, which has been almost completely destroyed in recent years.
So far, these attempts look like Akhmetov's tactical game aimed at maintaining their capital and political influence. But whether the Kremlin is ready to trust the Ukrainian business again, which has repeatedly "beat" Moscow is a big question.
