The United States did not impose sanctions on Roman Abramovich at the request of Volodymyr Zelensky:
the Ukrainian president has in fact asked Joe Biden to wait for sanctions as the oligarch could play a role in facilitating peace negotiations with Russia.
The Wall Street Journal reports it citing some sources.
In early March, US Treasury Department officials drafted sanctions to punish Abramovich following Russia's attack on Ukraine.
At the time of announcing them, however, the National Security Council told the Treasury to wait.
Behind the request, reports the Wall Street Journal, was Zelensky's advice to Biden to wait in imposing sanctions on Abramovich as the oligarch could have been a major intermediary with Russia in helping negotiate peace.
The US delay in sanctioning Abramovich is an unexpected turn in the West's strategy of punishing wealthy oligarchs with Kremlin ties to punish Putin.
Although several oligarchs have spoken out against the war, Abramovich is the only one who has publicly said he is trying to push Moscow to find a peaceful solution to the conflict.