UK Government and Abramovich in Stalemate over Chelsea FC Sale Funds

House of Lords Committee Urges Resolution to Release Frozen £2.5 Billion for Ukraine Aid

Former Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich and the UK government are in a stalemate over the distribution of £2.5 billion from the sale of Chelsea Football Club, which was meant to support Ukraine.
The funds, frozen in a UK bank account, were pledged by Abramovich to aid victims of the conflict in Ukraine following his sanctioning by the UK government in 2022 for enabling Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
The House of Lords European Affairs Committee has criticized both Abramovich and the government for failing to resolve the issue, calling it 'incomprehensible' and urging the government to use all legal means to break the impasse.
The disagreement centers on whether the funds should be used for humanitarian aid within Ukraine or to support Ukrainian exiles abroad.
The committee also raised concerns about Russia's ability to circumvent Western sanctions, urging the UK to strengthen its sanctions enforcement and cooperate more closely with the EU.