.png)
German (DE) 
English (US) 
Spanish (ES) 
French (FR) 
Hindi (IN) 
Italian (IT) 
Russian (RU) 
5 hours ago
3
This audio is created with AI assistance
U.K. Foreign Minister David Lammy vowed on March 9 to unfreeze billions of dollars of revenue earned from Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich's sale of the Chelsea Football Club (FC) and send the funds to Ukraine.
Abramovich was forced to sell Chelsea FC once sanctions were enacted against him following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Abramovich and U.K. officials previously promised the funds from the sale would go to Ukraine.
"I'm frustrated that it hasn't happened, is the truth — and that money needs to be distributed, it needs to be used," Lammy told the Financial Times (FT) on March 9.
2.3 billion pounds ($2.97 billion) are currently frozen in a U.K. dedicated trust as officials decide how to obtain and utilize the funds.
"I'm determined to see that money get out the door and to do all I can to bring that about," Lammy said.
There are legal complexities, but Lammy said his "first instinct is not litigation" because of how long it could take.
The U.K. government previously reported that the funds intended to help Ukraine remained in limbo due to a disagreement between U.K. officials and Abramovich.
Ukraine's European allies are rushing to increase support following a military aid pause from the U.S. The U.K. has promised to deliver more military aid to Kyiv this year than ever before.
Ukraine war latest: Trump won’t resume Ukraine military aid after signing minerals deal; Kursk situation ‘difficult but under control’
Key developments on March 8-9: * Trump won’t resume Ukraine military aid after signing minerals deal, NBC News reports * Ukraine releases video of Russian attack via gas pipeline in Kursk Oblast * Ukrainian drone reportedly attacks oil depot in Russia’s Chuvashia for first time * France to prov…
The Kyiv IndependentThe Kyiv Independent news desk
Most popular
1. 2. 3. 4. 5.News Feed
6:57 AM
Lammy vows to unfreeze billions for Ukraine from Russian oligarch's Chelsea FC sale.
"I’m frustrated that it hasn’t happened, is the truth — and that money needs to be distributed, it needs to be used," U.K. Foreign Minister David Lammy said on March 9.
5:44 AM
US to assess if Ukraine ready for 'realistic peace' at upcoming meeting, Reuters reports.
"If they are only interested in 2014 or 2022 borders, that tells you something," an unnamed U.S. official said.
5:12 AM
JD Vance's cousin, former volunteer fighter in Ukraine, condemns VP's 'ambush' of Zelensky.
"Being your family doesn't mean I'm going to accept you killing my comrades," Nate Vance, a volunteer who fought in Ukraine's Da Vinci Wolves battalion, told Le Figaro.
4:34 AM
US has 'just about' lifted pause on intelligence sharing with Ukraine, Trump tells media.
When asked whether the U.S. would end the suspension of intelligence sharing, Trump told reporters, "We just about have," according to Reuters.
3:10 AM
Ditching Ukraine would 'be worse than Afghanistan,' Republican senator says.
U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham added he will introduce legislation to sanction Russia's banking and energy sectors "next week" in a bid to bring Moscow to the negotiating table.
2:47 AM
Ukraine 'may not survive,' Trump says.
"Are you comfortable with that? The fact that you walked away, and Ukraine may not survive?" Fox News correspondent Maria Bartiromo asked the president. "Well, it may not survive anyway," Trump said.
2:03 AM
'Nobody has been tougher on Russia,' Trump says.
"I think I've been very tough to Russia. Tougher than anybody's ever been to Russia, if you think about it," Trump told the right-wing media outlet Fox News in an interview on March 9.
1:18 AM
Starlink will 'never' shut off its terminals in Ukraine, Musk says.
"To be extremely clear, no matter how much I disagree with the Ukraine policy, Starlink will never turn off its terminals," billionaire Elon Musk said in a post to his social media platform, X.
12:52 AM
Zelensky not grateful for US aid, Trump claims.
President Volodymyr Zelensky "took money out of this country under Biden like candy from a baby," U.S. President Donald Trump said in an interview with Fox News on March 9.
11:51 PM
Ukrainian high jumper Yaroslava Mahuchikh wins gold at European Athletics Indoor Championships.
Ukrainian high jumper Yaroslava Mahuchikh claimed the gold medal at the European Athletics Indoor Championships in Apeldoorn, Netherlands, on March 9.
10:12 PM
9:15 PM
Romanian far-right candidate Calin Georgescu barred from running in presidential election.
Romania's electoral bureau has disqualified far-right candidate Calin Georgescu from running in the presidential election re-run, multiple Romanian channels announced on March 9.
7:55 PM
Rubio, Musk clash with Polish FM over Starlink in Ukraine, accuse him of 'just making things up'.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Elon Musk sharply responded to Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski on March 9, dismissing Sikorski’s concerns about Starlink being cut off in the future, and urging him to be thankful for the assistance thus far.
5:43 PM
Poland will seek alternatives if Musk cuts Ukraine's Starlink access, Sikorski says.
"The ethics of threatening the victim of aggression apart, if SpaceX proves to be an unreliable provider we will be forced to look for other suppliers," Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski wrote.
4:50 PM
US Secret Service shoots armed man near White House.
At the time of the incident, U.S. President Donald Trump was at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida, according to CBS News.
4:12 PM
Trump won't resume Ukraine military aid after signing minerals deal, NBC News reports.
U.S. President Donald Trump wants to see a change in President Volodymyr Zelensky's stance toward peace talks with Russia and a willingness to make concessions such as giving up occupied territories to Russia, sources told NBC News.
3:42 PM
Russia, China, Iran to hold joint naval drills in Gulf of Oman.
The exercises are aimed at deepening "the mutual trust and pragmatic cooperation between the participating countries' armies," the Chinese Defense Ministry said.
Trump's betrayal and Europe's response | Ukraine This Week.
U.S. President Donald Trump's administration halted U.S. military aid and intelligence sharing with Ukraine as Europe prepares a post-America defense strategy.
2:09 PM
Russia launched nearly 1,200 bombs, 870 drones, over 80 missiles against Ukraine this week, Zelensky says.
The weapons that Russia used against Ukraine this week contained more than 82,000 foreign components, President Volodymyr Zelensky said.
1:24 PM
Ukraine releases video of Russian attack via gas pipeline in Kursk Oblast.
"At present, Russian special forces are being detected, blocked and destroyed. Enemy losses in the Sudzha area are very heavy," the General Staff claimed on the evening of March 8.
12:18 PM
Ukrainian front line 'would collapse' if Starlink is turned off, Musk claims.
"My Starlink system is the backbone of the Ukrainian army. Their entire front line would collapse if I turned it off," tech billionaire Elon Musk claimed on X.
11:12 AM
Ukrainian drone reportedly attacks oil depot in Russia's Chuvashia for first time.
The Burevestnik oil depot lies over 900 kilometers (559 miles) from the Ukrainian border.
10:13 AM
Russian attacks against Ukraine kill 6, injure 34 over past day.
Ukrainian forces downed 73 out of the 119 drones, including Shahed-type attack drones, launched by Russia overnight, the Air Force reported.
9:06 AM
General Staff: Russia has lost 885,130 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24, 2022.
This number includes 1,180 casualties Russian forces suffered just over the past day.
Comments