The British government has threatened legal action against Roman Abramovich to ensure that the £2.5 billion from his 2022 sale of Chelsea Football Club goes to victims of Russia’s war in Ukraine.

In a joint statement on Tuesday, Chancellor Rachel Reeves and Foreign Secretary David Lammy said the UK remains committed to seeing the frozen funds used for humanitarian aid in Ukraine. Talks with Abramovich have so far failed to reach a deal.

“While the door for negotiations will remain open, we are fully prepared to pursue this through the courts if required,” the ministers said.

Abramovich sold the club to a group led by U.S. investor Todd Boehly after the UK sanctioned him in 2022 over his ties to the Kremlin. The deal was approved on the condition he would not personally profit.

Though the money is frozen and cannot be moved without a UK licence, it still legally belongs to Abramovich. He argues the funds should support all war victims—including those in Russia—while London insists the money must go exclusively to help Ukrainians.

The UK has been one of Ukraine’s strongest allies since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022.

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