British officials are prepared to go to court in order to secure the transfer of over £2
3 billion (more than $3.2 billion) received from the sale of the legendary football club Chelsea by Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich to Ukraine. This decision comes in response to ongoing efforts to persuade the billionaire to use these funds for humanitarian aid to Ukraine, which has suffered extensive destruction due to the Russian invasion. The UK government has repeatedly expressed its position that the proceeds from the sale of the club should be intentionally used to support the Ukrainian people. However, sources indicate that the situation has stalled due to the inability to reach an agreement with Abramovich, who has been under British and European sanctions since 2022. Because of this, the funds have been frozen in UK bank accounts, and their use cannot be authorized without the appropriate licenses issued by the UK's Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation, a division of the Treasury. The sale of Chelsea was completed in May 2022. The Russian businessman sold his stake to a consortium led by American investor Todd Boehly. However, the proceeds have been frozen and remain an undisbursed asset within the international legal system, which is seeking a way to realize the funds for targeted and humanitarian purposes. In recent months, British government officials and politicians at all levels have insisted that these significant financial resources should be directed towards supporting Ukraine, providing humanitarian aid to those affected, and rebuilding infrastructure and social services. As noted by the department, the government continues to make efforts to achieve this goal, including attempts to persuade Abramovich to voluntarily transfer the funds for these purposes. However, in an official government statement issued on Monday, it was announced that negotiations with Roman Abramovich had not yielded the expected results. "We have had to conclude that our firm intentions to reach an agreement with the club owner regarding the use of the sale proceeds for humanitarian purposes have not been successful. Therefore, we are considering all legal avenues to protect our interests," the Treasury's press service quoted Chancellor Rachel Reeves and Foreign Secretary David Lemmie. The statement emphasizes that while negotiations remain open and this option has not been definitively excluded, the UK is prepared to apply all legislative mechanisms to seize the funds and transfer them to Ukraine. The government underscores that the goals of humanitarian aid are of utmost importance, and each day of delay in fulfilling these objectives constitutes a human tragedy. It is worth recalling that back in March, Foreign Minister Lemmie promised to take all necessary measures to facilitate the swift release of funds received from the sale of the football club. He assured that he was doing everything possible to ensure that the funds, which have long been frozen in bank vaults, reach Ukrainian hands and are used for humanitarian needs. Currently, Ukrainians and the international community are awaiting a decision that would unblock these large sums and direct them towards Ukraine’s recovery and support. At the same time, the situation leaves open the question of how and under what conditions this multi-billion-dollar amount will be used for humanitarian purposes, as it now resides within a complex legal and political framework, complicating a swift resolution. Should the UK proceed to legal action, it could set a precedent in the field of sanctions enforcement and the use of assets obtained from the sale of assets under sanctions. Such a high-profile case could clarify issues related to accountability and oversight of the use of frozen resources in the future.