Zelenskyy and Starmer discuss what happens to frozen Chelsea sale funds
Photo: British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy (Getty Images)
On January 3, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Among the topics discussed was the fate of the frozen funds from the sale of the football club Chelsea, according to the president's Telegram channel.
"Had a good conversation with Keir Starmer. We discussed how to proceed with diplomacy and how to achieve greater justice, given everything Russia has brought with its war," Zelenskyy said.
According to him, the conversation also covered preparations for an upcoming leaders’ meeting.
"National security advisers are also working very productively — today is an active day, with 18 participants from Europe taking part in joint work. We are coordinating with the American side as well," the president added.
Zelenskyy and Starmer also discussed the need for a fair resolution regarding the frozen funds from Chelsea’s sale.
"These are two and a half billion pounds that could and must significantly help protect lives and rebuild Ukraine after all the Russian strikes," the president noted.
Sale of Chelsea
It is recalled that Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich purchased Chelsea Football Club in summer 2003. In 2022, after Russia’s attack on Ukraine, he was removed from his role as director due to sanctions and his connections to Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin.
Abramovich announced the sale of Chelsea in early March 2022 and sold the club in May for $5.4 billion. He proposed creating a charitable fund, with all net proceeds directed to victims of the war in Ukraine.
The billionaire obtained a license from the UK government to sell Chelsea on the condition that the funds would support war victims in Ukraine.
Currently, the proceeds from the sale are frozen in a bank account of Fordstam Ltd, the former parent company of Chelsea, which belongs to Abramovich.
The UK government sought to reach an agreement with the oligarch to use the billions from Chelsea for humanitarian aid to Ukraine. It later reported that it could not secure such an agreement and now plans to take legal action against Abramovich.
It is noted that war-affected Ukrainians may receive less than half of the $3.09 billion obtained from the Chelsea sale.
Additionally, Abramovich faces potential litigation if he does not transfer the funds from the sale of Chelsea to Ukraine.
