Volodymyr Zelensky told US to avoid Abramovich sanctions because of role in peace talks

 

The Russian invasion of Ukraine and the sale of Chelsea are two stories that have been linked since the very start, and every passing week binds them closer together.

Today has seen reporting from the Wall Street Journal which claims that the USA has not yet sanctioned Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich because of advice from Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelensky.

Zelensky told American President Joe Biden that Abramovich was acting as a go between in peace talks, and should be held from the sanctions list for now. America seems to have taken that advice.

Some Chelsea fans are taking this badly, saying it was unfair for the UK to sanction Abramovich when the president of the country being invaded is telling others not to – but let’s face it, Zelensky is saying not to sanction Abramovich because he could be useful, not because he doesn’t think he deserves to be sanctioned. Perhaps sanctioning him in the UK and leaving him free in the US is a good compromise.