Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich at forefront of Russia-Ukraine peace talks

Chelsea football club owner and Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich has accepted a request from Ukraine to help in the country's peace talks with Russia, ESPN reported Monday morning via Reuters.

"I can confirm 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," a spokesperson for  Abramovich said.

"Considering what is at stake, we would ask for understanding as to why we have not commented on either the situation as such or his involvement."

Abramovich was contacted by the Ukrainian government to help in the talks, ESPN said.

News of Abramovich's involvement in the talks comes shortly after he stepped down from his post with Chelsea, which was preceded by speculation he would be kicked out of the U.K. for his connections to Vladimir Putin and the Russian government. Abramovich served as governor of Chukotka, a region in the Russian Far East, under Putin's rule.