Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich and two Ukrainian negotiators suffered symptoms of suspected poisoning in Kyiv amidst peace talks between Russia and Ukraine.

The Wall Street Journal reported on Monday that Mr Abramovich and Ukrainian MP Rustem Umerov had been affected by the attack. Mr Abramovich is said to have recovered from the attack. 

Messrs Abramovich and Umerov were reported to have developed symptoms such as red eyes, constant and painful tearing, and peeling skin on their faces and hands while travelling to Moscow, Lviv and other cities arranged for the negotiations.

Though no names have been revealed, The Journal said the poisoning attack was facilitated by people in Russia who wanted to sabotage the talks.

Investigative website Bellingcat corroborated the Journal’s report in a tweet, saying it “can confirm that three members of the delegation attending the peace talks between Ukraine and Russia on the night of 3 to 4 March 2022 experienced symptoms consistent with poisoning with chemical weapons.” 

Bellingcat noted that the dosage and type of toxin used to attack the negotiator were “insufficient to cause life-threatening damage, and most likely was intended to scare the victims as opposed to cause permanent damage”.

However, Bellingcat and its investigative partner The Insider, said it would publish an investigation on the presumed poisonings. 

Vladimir Putin had personally approved Mr Abramovich’s involvement in Russia’s peace talks with Ukraine and Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky asked the United States to exclude the former owner of Chelsea FC from its own blacklist because of his role as a go-between in the ceasefire discussions.