Ukraine-Russia war latest: Zelensky and Starmer discuss how to spend billions seized from Abramovich after Chelsea sale
Keir Starmer has discussed using the £2.5 billion frozen proceeds seized from Abromavich after the sale of Chelsea FC to help Ukraine, President Volodymr Zelensky has said.
Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich was forced to sell the club after being sanctioned by the UK for his connection to Russian President Vladimir Putin, following Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Before the sale in 2022, Abramovich said that he would set up a war victims’ charity, but hasn’t followed through.
In a post on X Zelensky said: “I also discussed with Keir the need for a fair decision regarding the frozen proceeds from the sale of Chelsea – £2.5 billion that can and must significantly help protect lives and support Ukraine’s recovery after all the Russian strikes.”
“I am grateful to Keir for his leadership and thankful to the United Kingdom for the fact that such entirely just decisions can strengthen Ukraine’s resilience and our shared aspiration for peace – with Britain and with many others around the world.”
It comes after Russia advanced more in 2025 than in the previous two years combined, seizing about 1 per cent of Ukraine.
Ukraine has ordered the evacuation of 3,000 children as well as their parents from frontline regions, saying the situation is no longer safe for them. This brings the total number of Ukrainians evacuated from the frontlines since 1 June to 150,000, Kyiv said.
