Starmer tells Abramovich to transfer £2.5bn to Ukraine

Sir Keir Starmer has warned Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich that the “clock is ticking” for him to hand over the £2.5bn he received from the sale of Chelsea FC.

- DAVID MADDOX

The prime minister told MPs yesterday that a licence has been issued, allowing the money to be transferred to the people of Ukraine suffering at the hands of the Russian invasion. The announcement is the first major move in transferring Europe-based Russian assets for the rebuilding of Ukraine. It follows a mini-summit between Sir Keir and the Belgian prime minister Bart De Wever last week to discuss Russian assets, most of which are based in Belgium.

Speaking during PMQs, Sir Keir said: “The clock is ticking on Roman Abramovich to honour the commitment he made when Chelsea FC was sold and transfer the £2.5bn to a humanitarian cause for Ukraine. This government is prepared to enforce it through the courts so that every penny reaches those whose lives have been torn apart by Putin’s illegal war.”