The United Kingdom government has reiterated that the £2.35 billion proceeds from the sale of Chelsea Football Club must be spent exclusively on humanitarian causes inside Ukraine. This is necessary as a new charity led by a prominent former UN aid chief prepares to distribute the funds.
Former UN aid chief Martin Griffiths named trustee of new Chelsea sale charity
The Foundation for the Victims of Conflict has appointed Martin Griffiths, former UN undersecretary general for humanitarian affairs, as one of its trustees. Griffiths retired from his UN post in July 2024 and currently serves as executive director of Mediation Group International.
The former diplomat previously served as UN special envoy to Yemen, where he oversaw peace talks in Sweden aimed at ending the country’s civil war. He later coordinated humanitarian aid during the early stages of the Gaza conflict.
Griffiths has longstanding ties to Jonathan Powell, the UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s national security adviser. Together, they founded Inter Mediate, a charity focused on negotiation and diplomacy.
The UK Charity Commission confirmed it has received an application to register the Foundation for the Victims of Conflict. This is to receive funds from the sale of Chelsea FC.
The watchdog said it will assess the application against the legal framework for charitable status. This will help determine whether it meets the legal tests to become a charity.
“Organizations entered on to the Register of Charities meet the legal definition of a charity and that trustees comply with their legal duties,” the commission added.
Other proposed trustees include former UNICEF executive Mike Penrose, Nimco Ali, co-founder of The Five Foundation. Additionally, there is Caryl Stern, head of the Walton Family Foundation, one of the largest charitable foundations in the United States.
UK sanctions bar Abramovich from benefiting as £2.35bn remains frozen for Ukraine
The British government imposed sanctions on Abramovich following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. They cited his close ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The Chelsea sale proceeds have remained frozen in a UK bank account since the club’s 2022 sale. The UK has stated it will consider any proposal from Abramovich to voluntarily donate the funds to the most vulnerable in Ukraine.
They added that under the terms of the licence, proceeds must go to humanitarian causes inside the country.
Additionally, it says any future gains the foundation earns may be spent more broadly on conflict victims worldwide. In neither case, the UK stressed, can the funds benefit Abramovich or any other sanctioned individuals.
Meanwhile, President Donald Trump threatens to cut Ukraine aid aim to halt weapons shipments. He is applying direct pressure on European allies to join a US-led coalition aimed at reopening the Strait of Hormuz.