Billionaire Chelsea Owner Roman Abramovich is in Belarus helping to orchestrate peace talks between Russia and Ukraine, at the request of the Ukrainian government.

According to reports by the Jerusalem Post, the billionaire is currently in Belarus as talks commence. Negotiating groups from the two governments arrived in Belarus this weekend and began talks.

Ukraine's president Volodomyr Zelensky has said he's not optimistic about the outcome of the talks but would participate so that "no citizen could accuse me of not doing everything to stop the war."

Last week, Roman Abramovich announced he would be stepping back from control of Chelsea, saying that trustees of Chelsea’s charitable Foundation would be given the "stewardship and care" of the club. He attracted criticism in the UK for his ownership of the club and his previous relationship with President Vladimir Putin.

According to a spokesman for Abramovich: “Roman Abramovich was contacted by the Ukrainian side for support in achieving a peaceful resolution, and that he has been trying to help ever since. Considering what is at stake, we would ask for understanding as to why we have not commented on neither the situation as such nor his involvement.”