Britain has given Roman Abramovich a 90-day licence-based deadline to transfer 2.5 billion pounds from the Chelsea sale to a newly created humanitarian foundation for Ukraine, while the money remains frozen in a UK account due to sanctions and a government-lawyer dispute.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer warned that time is running out and signaled that the government will pursue legal action if Abramovich does not comply.

The trigger for this move is the government’s insistence that the funds be used exclusively for Ukraine’s relief and reconstruction, with ministers ready to go to court to unlock the assets if necessary.

Officials have not set a hard public deadline, but expect action within months, while some politicians have urged a year-end transfer.

The Treasury has not defined specific legal mechanisms to compel the transfer, and legal experts warn that court action could set a precedent for how frozen assets are handled.

As of publication, the case remains unresolved, with ongoing legal and administrative processes surrounding the donation.

Government signals indicate Abramovich is expected to act within months, and previous statements suggested willingness to pursue court action to unlock the funds.

This dispute sits within a broader context of Europe’s diplomacy over Ukraine and ongoing negotiations around using frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine.

The government began threatening litigation in June to enforce the humanitarian transfer amid disputes with Abramovich’s lawyers over the fund’s release.

Officials have consistently signaled readiness to enforce payment through courts if Abramovich does not proceed.

Abramovich had not commented publicly at the time of reporting, and attempts to reach him for comment were unsuccessful.

The government has long sought Abramovich’s cooperation and has indicated it is prepared to take court action to access the funds after years of negotiations.