Russian and Ukrainian negotiators held the first direct peace talks in more than two weeks on Tuesday in Istanbul, with the surprise attendance of Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich who is sanctioned by the West over Moscow's invasion of Ukraine.
The two teams sat facing each other at a long table in the presidential office, with the Russian oligarch sitting in the front row of observers wearing a blue suit, a Turkish presidential video feed showed.
The Chelsea owner suffered the symptoms after a meeting in Kyiv earlier this month, sources close to the situation said on Monday.
Mr Abramovich and at least two senior Ukrainian peace negotiators were said to have experienced symptoms of suspected poisoning, including red eyes, constant and painful tearing, and peeling skin on their faces and hands.
Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich listens as Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan (not seen) addresses Russian and Ukrainian negotiators before their face-to-face talks in Istanbul, Turkey March 29, 2022. Murat Cetinmuhurdar/Presidential Press Office/Handout via REUTERS.
MURAT CETINMUHURDAR/PPO
Mr Abramovich and the others who fell ill have since recovered, with the 55-year-old continuing his efforts for peace in Ukraine.
Signs have emerged since the war began that Mr Abramovich has been seeking to encourage negotiations, and he has traveled to Ukraine, Russia, Turkey and Israel in March. Two of his superyachts are docked at Turkish resorts.
His presence baffled at least one Ukrainian diplomat, while Moscow said he was not formally negotiating but rather there as a go-between.
Security guarantees and organising a ceasefire to resolve humanitarian problems were under discussion, an adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said it would become clear by Wednesday if the talks were promising.
NATO member Turkey shares a maritime border with Ukraine and Russia in the Black Sea, has good ties with both and has offered to mediate the conflict. While calling Moscow's invasion unacceptable, Ankara has also opposed the Western sanctions.
In a speech ahead of the talks by the Bosphorus strait, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan told the delegations the time had come for concrete results and that progress would pave the way for a meeting of the countries' two leaders.
"It is up to the sides to stop this tragedy. Achieving a ceasefire and peace as soon as possible is to the benefit of everyone," he said.
"The negotiating process, which you have been carrying out under the orders of your leaders, has raised hopes for peace."
Ukrainian television said the meeting began with "a cold welcome" and no handshake between delegations.
Russian forces invaded Ukraine on February 24, with Vladimir Putin calling it a "special military operation" to demilitarise Ukraine.
Ukraine and the West say Mr Putin launched an unprovoked war of aggression.
