Zelenskyy urges UK to release Abramovich funds for Ukraine defence

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he raised the issue of the proceeds from Roman Abramovich’s £2.4 billion sale of Chelsea FC during a conversation with Keir Starmer, stressing that he would like to see the funds transferred for Ukraine’s benefit and calling for closer alignment between British and European sanctions on Russia.

Speaking in an interview with The Guardian, Zelenskyy said the UK government had earmarked the proceeds for humanitarian purposes in Ukraine, but the funds have yet to be released.

During a visit to London, Zelenskyy sought to reassure the British public that continued support for Ukraine was in their national interest, noting that successive UK governments have allocated more than £20 billion in military, humanitarian and economic assistance since Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022.

“British people helped us from the very beginning of this war, it’s true. It’s because of security, not only values … But it’s about security in Europe. It’s in the interests of the UK,” he said.

Zelenskyy suggested that transferring the proceeds from the Chelsea sale to Ukraine could help finance antiballistic missile systems to intercept Russian strikes, which frequently target the country’s energy infrastructure.

Officials are preparing for a possible court case after Abramovich failed to release the funds by the deadline, amid an ongoing dispute over how the money should ultimately be used.

“The prime minister told me that he’s trying his best, and I know that our diplomatic teams speak about it, and of course, it’s difficult moment. We need more security, and we are trying, through the Purl programme, to buy antiballistic missiles from the United States,” Zelenskyy said.

“They are very expensive, and of course this money can help, and it’s fair between us. So Russia began this war. Why not use Russian money?”

Zelenskyy added that Abramovich had not brought up the funds during a recent meeting in Kyiv. “He didn’t bring this money. I said: ‘We need your money.’”

The Ukrainian president also said he had asked Starmer and allied countries for additional support to “close the sky” against Russian attacks, as well as funding to place Ukrainian soldiers on professional contracts instead of mobilising them involuntarily.

Commenting on sanctions, Zelenskyy said he would like to see closer coordination between the UK and European countries after London introduced a policy allowing the temporary import of Russian oil and jet fuel via third countries, prompting assurances to Kyiv that the move would not weaken restrictions.

While welcoming UK measures targeting Russia’s so-called shadow fleet, Zelenskyy said Ukraine required additional sanctions against Moscow “as quickly as possible” to deter President Vladimir Putin from escalating the war and continuing to “fight to the end.”

By Tamilla Hasanova