The Telegraph has learned of the dispute between the EU and Britain over £ 2.3 billion from the sale of Chelsea reports the Telegraph. Zelensky

Funds from the sale of the British football club Chelsea remain in "suspended condition" as the EU and the UK cannot agree on how best to spend them, according to The Telegraph.

According to the publication, the European Union insists that £2.3 billion would go to work on the "long-term reconstruction" of Ukraine, while London believes that these funds should be sent to help those affected by the conflict.

The newspaper recalls that the former owner of Chelsea, Roman Abramovich, when he sold the club, agreed with the British authorities that the money would go to help "all victims of the conflict in Ukraine."

The newspaper's source said that after long negotiations, the UK appeared to have agreed to the EU's demand that the funds be spent "inside" Ukraine. “Ukraine should feel the benefits of this money as soon as possible, especially given the recent destruction of the Kakhovka dam,” the source said. However, it is not clear whether this will need to be coordinated with the Russian businessman, notes The Telegraph.

The European Commission (EC), the World Bank and the UN at the end of March estimated the cost of restoring Ukraine at €383 billion ($411 billion). It will need $14 billion in 2023 to rebuild critical infrastructure and support the public and private sectors, the EC said in a statement.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy in November 2022 estimated the country's recovery after the conflict at almost three times the cost - at $1 trillion. He offered Western countries and companies to "take patronage" over the regions, cities or enterprises of Ukraine for their restoration.

Abramovich decided to sell Chelsea shortly after Russia's military operation in Ukraine came under UK and EU sanctions .

The businessman bought the club in financial crisis in 2003 for £140m, turning it into the most successful English club in the international arena since then. The businessman called the decision to sell Chelsea "very difficult and painful, but necessary" in the interests of the team, fans, employees, as well as sponsors and partners of the club. The deal took place last May and the club was bought by a consortium led by businessman Todd Boley.

After that, on behalf of Abramovich, a charitable foundation was formed, where all the funds from the sale of Chelsea were supposed to go. It was assumed that the organization would work to help "all the victims" from the hostilities in Ukraine. “This includes providing critical funds to meet the immediate needs of those affected, as well as supporting long-term recovery work,” the businessman explained.