London decided to maintain sanctions until Russia pays compensation to Kyiv

London will also invite sanctioned Russians who claim support for Ukraine to voluntarily donate their frozen funds to rebuild the country, but without the guarantee of sanctions lifting James Cleverly

The UK has submitted a bill that would allow it to maintain sanctions against RUSSIA until it pays compensation to Ukraine , REUTERS reports .

"Ukraine's needs for reconstruction are enormous and will remain so," said British Foreign Secretary James Cleverley. He noted that by doing so, London confirms that it is ready to use sanctions so that Moscow pays for the restoration of the country.

The government has also decided that sanctioned Russians who claim to support Kiev will be given the opportunity to donate their frozen funds to rebuilding Ukraine. “This will be a voluntary process, during which persons under sanctions can apply for funds to support the recovery and reconstruction of Ukraine,” the Cabinet of Ministers explained. There will be no coercion or offers to ease sanctions in exchange for money , the authorities said .

Since the outbreak of hostilities in February last year, Britain has frozen more than 18 billion pounds ($23 billion) of assets and imposed sanctions on more than 1,550 Russians, the agency recalls.

Last week, the Daily Mail, citing sources in the British Foreign Office, wrote that Russian businessman Roman Abramovich, who is under British and EU sanctions , refuses to transfer money from the sale of the Chelsea football club to Kiev. He wants part of the funds to be received by the Russians affected by the conflict. However, neither London nor Brussels will agree to this as long as there are restrictions on Moscow, the newspaper noted.

Abramovich sold Chelsea, which he had owned since 2003, shortly after the outbreak of hostilities in Ukraine and the imposition of sanctions. The proceeds from the sale of the club were to go to a fund created at the direction of the businessman to help all those affected by the conflict.

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As The Telegraph wrote, the money was in "suspended condition" due to the fact that Britain and the European Union could not agree on how best to spend it. Thus, Brussels insisted that £2.3 billion be directed to the restoration of Ukraine, and London insisted that they go to help the victims. According to the source of the publication, after long negotiations, London seems to have given in.

According to estimates by the European Commission, the World Bank and the United Nations, the restoration of Ukraine will require €383 billion ($411 billion). President Volodymyr Zelensky last fall estimated the country's needs at almost three times the price, at $1 trillion.