\n<\/p>\n
The UK government has threatened to sue former Chelsea Football Club owner Roman Abramovich to make sure the money from the club’s sale goes to Ukraine.<\/p>\n
The \u00a32.5bn in proceeds have been frozen in a UK bank account since the sale, with Mr Abramovich sanctioned after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.<\/p>\n
The UK government wants the money to be for Ukrainian humanitarian aid, but Mr Abramovich has said he wants it to go to “all victims of the war in Ukraine”.<\/p>\n
In a joint statement, Chancellor Rachel Reeves and Foreign Secretary David Lammy said: “While the door for negotiations will remain open, we are fully prepared to pursue this through the courts if required.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
They said they wanted “to ensure people suffering in Ukraine can benefit from these proceeds as soon as possible”.<\/p>\n
They added: “The government is determined to see the proceeds from the sale of Chelsea Football Club reach humanitarian causes in Ukraine, following Russia’s illegal full-scale invasion. <\/p>\n
“We are deeply frustrated that it has not been possible to reach agreement on this with Mr Abramovich so far”.<\/p>\n