Zelensky Proposes to Use £2.35 Billion from Abramovich's Sale of Chelsea for Air Defense 0 13

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky proposed to UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer to direct the frozen £2.4 billion from the sale of the Chelsea club by Russian businessman Abramovich towards purchasing air defense systems for Ukraine. Zelensky mentioned this in an interview with The Guardian.

The transfer of funds from the sale of Chelsea to Ukraine could help finance air defense systems to intercept Russian missiles, which frequently strike Ukraine's energy infrastructure, Zelensky said.

"The Prime Minister (Keir Starmer) said he is making every effort, and I know our diplomatic teams are discussing this. This is a complicated moment," Zelensky added.

According to him, these funds could help Ukraine acquire additional missile defense systems from the United States. E3 countries will assist Ukraine with anti-ballistic capabilities, the president clarified.

"I hope we can develop a European anti-ballistic system together with the United Kingdom. We are working on this. It is necessary for us, and it is needed by the United Kingdom," Zelensky said.

Context

Zelensky previously mentioned that he met with Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich in Kyiv in May and told him that he was ready to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in any format and that Ukraine would not withdraw its troops from Donbas.

£2.35 billion received from the sale of Chelsea, as well as about £150 million in interest accrued since 2022, remain frozen in the account of Abramovich's company Fordstam Ltd.

Financial reports indicate that £1.4 billion of this amount belongs to Camberley International Investments Limited, registered in Jersey and controlled by Abramovich.

The net proceeds from the sale, after accounting for other balance sheet items, are to be transferred to a charitable foundation, the documents state.

In December 2025, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer ordered that £2.5 billion raised from Roman Abramovich's sale of Chelsea Football Club be directed to humanitarian aid for Ukraine.

Abramovich hired top lawyers to block in court the transfer of £2.5 billion to Ukraine from the sale of Chelsea.