Following the invasion of Ukraine, US officials have so far excluded Vladimir Putin’s reputed long-term mistress, ex-Olympic gymnast Alina Kabaeva, from successive rounds of penalties, a decision purportedly made out of fear of derailing efforts to negotiate a cease-fire.

The 69-year-old Russian president has never spoken publicly about his relationship with Kabaeva, a 39-year-old former Russian Vogue cover model, and both the Kremlin and Kabaeva have denied that they are linked.

However, the FBI believes Kabaeva, who has been linked to Putin romantically for years, is the mother of at least three of the Russian leader’s children who have yet to be revealed to the world.

According to the Wall Street Journal, Treasury Department officials went so far as to develop a sanctions package targeting Kabaeva, who is suspected to be involved in the Kremlin’s effort to conceal the true size of Putin’s wealth and worldwide assets.

According to the publication, the penalties were cancelled minutes before they were to be publicised by the National Security Council.

While Kabaeva is suspected of assisting Putin in concealing his fortune overseas, little information about her alleged acts is publicly available. She is said to be based in Switzerland. Kabaeva and Putin’s four young children were reportedly holed up in Switzerland in March, according to Page Six.

A source told, “While Putin carries out his assault on the Ukraine, attacking innocent citizens and causing a refugee crisis, his family is holed up in a very private and very secure chalet somewhere in Switzerland, for now, at least,”

Kabaeva was a well-known rhythmic gymnast in her career, winning two Olympic medals, including gold in Athens, Greece, in 2004. She was once dubbed “Russia’s most flexible woman” for her contortionist skills during her performances.

Her gymnastics career was not without its share of controversy. After testing positive for a banned substance in 2002, Kabaeva earned a one-year suspension from competition as well as the loss of several medals.

Putin’s ties to Kabaeva were initially revealed in 2008, when Russian publication Moskovsky Korrespondent stated that Putin had divorced his wife and was engaged to the ex-gymnast. The publication eventually went out of business.

Putin slammed rumors about his alleged relationship with Kabaeva.

“I have a private life in which I do not permit interference. It must be respected,” Putin said at the time. “I have always reacted negatively to those who with their snotty noses and erotic fantasies prowl into others’ lives.”

Officials are concerned that penalizing Putin’s hidden mistress would exacerbate relations between the US and Russia amid a conflict in which Russian forces are already accused of grave human rights violations – and might jeopardies efforts to bring peace to Ukraine.

While the penalties have been put on hold for the time being, the Biden administration hasn’t completely ruled them out in the future.

US official told, “We have prepared sanctions on a number of people who haven’t yet been sanctioned, and we continue to think about when to impose those sanctions for maximum impact.”

The Treasury and the State Department did not immediately return request for comment.

Despite imposing sanctions against numerous individuals with close ties to the Kremlin, including Putin’s daughters, Maria Vorontsova and Katerina Tikhonova, the Biden administration has refrained from targeting Kabaeva. The White House referred to the two as Putin’s “adult children” when announcing the penalties.

The White House has also sanctioned the families of several prominent Russians close to Putin, including Kremlin spokesman Dmitriy Peskov’s wife and daughter.

Meanwhile, Russia has retaliated with sanctions against notable individuals and family members close to the White House, including Vice President Kamala Harris’ husband, Doug Emhoff, and President Biden’s son, Hunter.

Kabaeva has kept a low profile since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine began, but she recently resurfaced at a junior national rhythmic gymnastics competition in Moscow.

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