Andy Burnham speaks out about his involvement with Manchester City
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Andy Burnham has been called to release £2.5billion in frozen funds from Roman Abramovich’s sale of Chelsea in 2022.
Shakhtar Donetsk’s chief executive Serhii Palkin has urged the Prime Minister to release the huge sum, which is locked in an account controlled by Abramovich’s company, Fordstam.
The money has been frozen following disagreements over whether the funds should be directed solely to Ukraine.
Burnham has taken on the unresolved matter from his predecessor, Sir Keir Starmer, as Palkin called for urgency given Ukraine’s situation.
He told The Telegraph: “I believe that the Prime Minister will settle this question somehow because Ukraine really needs support now, needs financial support.
“Can you imagine what kind of support it can provide to Ukraine? We have very, very extensive and severe attacks from Russia, and we need to protect our country.
“We need to survive and this money just stays years already with nothing happening. Really, I believe that the Government of England (must) do everything to release this money for Ukraine, because obviously, like we say, we have to invest in Ukraine.
“You hear that everybody supports Ukraine, but we don’t want this support to be finished just by words. We need actions.
“It’s very important to jump from words to actions. Real actions.
“And we need the support of the whole democratic world at this moment, including England, who everybody knows is the biggest supporter of Ukraine. We have almost five years of war.
“Everybody is tired, we understand this. But meanwhile, you are tired, and you can’t see people dying.
“And if we just stop paying attention, what’s going to happen? Catastrophe.”
Shakhtar are in action at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday against AEK Athens, where they will play their Champions League “home” games.
They will wear shirts reading “Invest in Ukraine” as part of a campaign to encourage international investment in the war-torn country.
Abramovich held ownership of Chelsea for 19 years before parting with the club following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Clearlake Capital and Todd Boehly were the buyers, with Clearlake recently assuming full control after acquiring Boehly’s stake.
Shakhtar are set to play four games in west London, with future ties against Sporting Lisbon, Fenerbahce and Jose Mourinho’s Real Madrid.
Tickets remain on sale for their Wednesday contest against AEK Athens, with prices starting at £22.50.
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