Latest news with #UkraineAid
Reuters
7 days ago
- Business
- Reuters
Official involved in withholding Ukraine aid confirmed for US Defense post
WASHINGTON, June 3 (Reuters) - The U.S. Senate on Tuesday confirmed Michael Duffey, who in President Donald Trump's first administration asked the military to withhold aid to Ukraine, to be undersecretary of defense for acquisition and sustainment. On the day that one of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy's top aides visited Washington, the Senate voted 51-45, along party lines with Trump's fellow Republicans backing the nominee, to confirm Duffey as the official overseeing the Pentagon's weapons programs. Democrats sought testimony from Duffey during Trump's first term as president after an email showed him, in his role as a senior White House official in the Office of Management and Budget, directing the Pentagon to withhold security aid for Ukraine that had been approved by Congress. The inquiry, which led to Trump's first impeachment, focused on Trump's request that Zelenskiy investigate the president's political rival, Joe Biden, the former Democratic vice president who would defeat Trump in the 2020 election. Democrats who impeached Trump said he had withheld the aid to put pressure on Zelenskiy's government to agree to an investigation. Trump denied wrongdoing, accusing Democrats of seeking to overturn his 2016 election victory. Most congressional Republicans called the impeachment process unfair. Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Trump was elected to his second term as president in November 2024. In his second term, Trump has put intense pressure on Ukraine - including by briefly halting military aid - to come to the bargaining table with Russia. Those efforts have so far not yielded a ceasefire or significant progress toward a broader peace deal. Duffey's confirmation vote came the same day that Andriy Yermak, Zelenskiy's chief of staff, arrived in Washington together with the first deputy prime minister and other government officials. Yermak was expected to meet with U.S. officials including Secretary of State Marco Rubio and members of Congress.
BBC News
03-06-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Why UK dey threaten to sue Abramovich?
Di UK goment don threaten to sue former Chelsea Football Club owner Roman Abramovich to make sure say di money from di club sale go to Ukraine. Di £2.5bn wey be di money wey dem sell Chelsea, authorities hold am for one UK bank account since di sale, and dem sanction Oga Abramovich afta Russia full-scale invasion of Ukraine for February 2022. UK goment want make di money be for Ukrainian humanitarian aid, but Oga Abramovich say im want am to go to "all victims of di war for Ukraine". For inside one joint statement, Chancellor Rachel Reeves and Foreign Secretary David Lammy say: "While di door for negotiations still remain open, we dey fully prepared to pursue dis through di courts if required." Dem say dem want "to ensure say pipo wey dey suffer for Ukraine fit benefit from these proceeds as soon as possible". Dem add say: "Di goment dey determined to see di money from di sale of Chelsea Football Club reach humanitarian causes for Ukraine, following Russia illegal full-scale invasion. "We dey deeply frustrated say im no dey possible to reach agreement on dis wit Oga Abramovich so far". Di delay in releasing di funds na sake of disagreement between di UK goment and im lawyers. Oga Abramovich - na Russian billionaire wey make im money from oil and gas – dem give am one special licence to sell Chelsea afta Russia invasion of Ukraine, provided say im fit prove say om no go fit benefit from di sale. Im dey alleged to get strong ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin, something wey im don deny. Im no fit access di £2.5bn sale proceeds under UK sanctions but di money still legally belong to am. Wen im bin announce im decision to sell di club, im say di money from di sale go dey donated via one foundation "for di benefit of all victims of di war for Ukraine", wey go include those for Russia. Di UK goment pushback and argue say di funds suppose only dey spent on humanitarian efforts inside Ukraine. One House of Lords committee tok last year say e dey "incomprehensible" say Oga Abramovich neva fufill im promise to use di funds to support Ukraine, and dem add say di assets still dey frozen. "Dis situation reflects badly on both Oga Abramovich and di goment, wey suppose don push for a more binding commitment," di report say. Background of how Abramovich sell Chelsea Funds from Roman Abramovich sale of Chelsea wey bin suppose go to victims of di war for Ukraine authorities neva release am. For 2023, one official say di "disagreement" wey cause di delay na sake of how to use di funds na im dey delay di release of £2.5bn from di deal. Dem no comment on whether na Abramovich dey behind di delay. "We no want to speculate," Daniel Drake, deputy director of di sanctions taskforce for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, bin tok. "I think di disagreement na between those involved in running dis fund and di goment" Chelsea £4.25bn sale to one consortium wey bin dey led by American investor Todd Boehly and private equity firm Clearlake Capital dem complete am for May 2022. Abramovich bin say di money go dey used "for di benefit of all victims of the war in Ukraine" wen im bin announce im decision to sell for March 2022, a month afta Russia invasion of Ukraine. However, UK goment refuse to release di money unless im guarantee say di money go only goe to Ukrainians for Ukraine, not elsewhere. "Di money from di sale dem freeze am for one UK bank account," Europe Minister Leo Docherty tell di House of Lords European Affairs Committee. Russian billionaire Abramovich bin buy Chelsea for £140m for 2003. Im chop sanction from UK goment as part of dia response to Russia invasion of Ukraine
The Independent
03-06-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Government threatens to sue ex-Chelsea owner over frozen £2.5bn
The UK government is threatening legal action against Roman Abramovich to force him to release £2.5 billion from the sale of Chelsea Football Club, which was intended to aid victims of the war in Ukraine. Chancellor Rachel Reeves and Foreign Secretary David Lammy have expressed their frustration with the lack of progress in reaching an agreement with Mr Abramovich regarding the frozen funds. Chelsea was sold in May 2022 after Mr Abramovich, a high-profile oligarch, was sanctioned following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The £2.5 billion in proceeds from the sale have been frozen since, with the intention that they be used to help those affected by the conflict. But an agreement has yet to be reached with Mr Abramovich over the use of the money, which is held in a UK bank account. The money cannot be moved without a licence from the Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation. Ms Reeves and Mr Lammy said: 'The Government is determined to see the proceeds from the sale of Chelsea Football Club reach humanitarian causes in Ukraine, following Russia's illegal full-scale invasion. 'We are deeply frustrated that it has not been possible to reach agreement on this with Mr Abramovich so far. 'While the door for negotiations will remain open, we are fully prepared to pursue this through the courts if required, to ensure people suffering in Ukraine can benefit from these proceeds as soon as possible.' In February, a foreign office minister said the Government would look at using properties owned by Mr Abramovich to house Ukrainian refugees. Labour frontbencher Baroness Chapman of Darlington said it was 'an interesting idea' and committed to take it back to her department for it to be explored by civil servants. The suggestion was made after Foreign Secretary David Lammy said the UK and its European allies should move from freezing Russian assets to seizing them, with the proceeds used to assist Ukraine with its war and reconstruction efforts.
BBC News
03-06-2025
- Business
- BBC News
UK threatens to sue Abramovich over Chelsea sale
The UK government has threatened to sue former Chelsea Football Club owner Roman Abramovich to make sure the money from the club's sale goes to £2.5bn in proceeds have been frozen in a UK bank account since the sale, with Mr Abramovich sanctioned after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February UK government wants the money to be for Ukrainian humanitarian aid, but Mr Abramovich has said he wants it to go to "all victims of the war in Ukraine".In a joint statement, Chancellor Rachel Reeves and Foreign Secretary David Lammy said: "While the door for negotiations will remain open, we are fully prepared to pursue this through the courts if required." They said they wanted "to ensure people suffering in Ukraine can benefit from these proceeds as soon as possible".They added: "The government is determined to see the proceeds from the sale of Chelsea Football Club reach humanitarian causes in Ukraine, following Russia's illegal full-scale invasion. "We are deeply frustrated that it has not been possible to reach agreement on this with Mr Abramovich so far".The delay in releasing the funds centres on a disagreement between the UK government and his Abramovich - a Russian billionaire who made his fortune in oil and gas - was granted a special licence to sell Chelsea following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, providing he could prove he would not benefit from the is alleged to have strong ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin, something he has cannot access the £2.5bn sale proceeds under UK sanctions but the money still legally belongs to he announced his decision to sell the club, he said proceeds from the sale would be donated via a foundation "for the benefit of all victims of the war in Ukraine", which would include those in Russia. The UK government has pushed back and argued that the funds should only be spent on humanitarian efforts inside Ukraine.A House of Lords committee said last year said it was "incomprehensible" that Mr Abramovich's promise to use the funds to support Ukraine remained unfulfilled, and that the assets remained frozen."This impasse reflects badly on both Mr Abramovich and the government, which ought to have pushed for a more binding commitment," the report said.
Telegraph
02-06-2025
- Business
- Telegraph
Rachel Reeves threatens Roman Abramovich over frozen £2.35bn Chelsea sale money
Rachel Reeves is preparing to haul Roman Abramovich to court to finally break the three-year deadlock around the frozen £2.35 billion Chelsea FC sale fund. In a dramatic hardening of the UK's position, the Chancellor is taking a personal lead in attempting to force the fund's release for Ukraine aid. The fund has remained in limbo as Abramovich remains at loggerheads with ministers over how it is spent on war victims. The Labour Government has been holding the same line as previous Tory administration in insisting the huge sum is spent only on Ukraine. As talks continue to stall, Ms Reeves and David Lammy, the Foreign Secretary, have now resorted to threatening court action. 'We are deeply frustrated that it has not been possible to reach agreement on this with Mr Abramovich so far,' a statement from the pair read. Senior ministers have been debating for years how best to deal with Abramovich, who has maintained throughout that his initial agreement with the Government was to release the fund for 'all victims' of the war. The possibility of action via the courts was previously toyed with by the Conservative government, source close to talks say. With Labour making no progress since coming to power, however, Ms Reeves is understood to have played a key role in pursuing a new tougher on-the-record position. 'The Government is determined to see the proceeds from the sale of Chelsea Football Club reach humanitarian causes in Ukraine, following Russia's illegal full-scale invasion,' the new statement said, before later adding: 'While the door for negotiations will remain open, we are fully prepared to pursue this through the courts if required, to ensure people suffering in Ukraine can benefit from these proceeds as soon as possible.' No final decision has been made on taking Abramovich through the courts to seize the asset. Such action would inevitably be lengthy and messy against the oligarch. The former Chelsea owner first promised proceeds for 'all Ukraine war victims' after putting the west London club up for sale on March 2, 2022, eight days before facing action over alleged links to Vladimir Putin, the Russia president. Abramovich is still under UK Government sanction. The proceeds have been frozen in a UK bank account since the Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (OFSI) issued a licence to permit Abramovich to sell the club. The fund will have generated a significant amount of interest while in the account, potentially taking the total value beyond £2.5 billion. The Foreign Office had repeatedly promised in recent months that the new Government would 'double down' on efforts to reach a solution. Humanitarian charities have grown increasingly desperate for a breakthrough, fearful that discussions will be thrown further into chaos if UK sanction arrangements against Russia were to change. Despite the sale of the club taking place entirely within UK jurisdiction, ministers signed a unilateral declaration in May with the European Commission stating the money would be spent 'exclusively' within Ukraine. That move bemused the humanitarian sector as Mike Penrose, a former UK chief executive of Unicef, was brought in to create an independent foundation on the basis that it would be spent on 'Ukraine and its consequences'. Penrose has been taking a neutral position in discussions between the Government and Abramovich's lawyers. He has set up legal undertakings to make sure the money cannot fall back into the hands of the Russian. The Government will have board input and Jan Egeland, a senior Norwegian diplomat who once advised Kofi Annan at the United Nations, was brought in as interim chairman of the foundation. James Deneslow, head of the conflict team at Save the Children, is among leading figures in the sector to call on ministers to release the funds to support the full 'humanitarian consequences of the war in Ukraine'. The difference of opinion on the purposes of the foundation predates the Chelsea sale to a consortium led by American businessman Todd Boehly, which was completed on May 30, 2022.
