Iran war cannot be ’windfall’ for Putin, says Starmer, as Zelenskyy arrives in UK

Ukrainian president’s visit coincides with deadline for Roman Abramovich over proceeds from £2.5bn Chelsea sale Keir Starmer will host Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, on Tuesday as the prime minister warns US-Israeli strikes on Iran cannot be allowed to become a “windfall for Putin”. Zelenskyy’s visit will come on the day of the government deadline for the Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich to pay proceeds from his sale of Chelsea FC to victims of the Ukraine war. The former Chelsea owner is now expected to face legal action, having insisted that the £2.5bn raised by the sale is his to allocate, including to Russian victims of the war. The British government warned Abramovich last year he must release the cash, or he could be taken to court. A government source said there was no expectation that Abramovich would pay by the deadline. On Monday, Abramovich’s lawyers at Kobre & Kim said the cash was still “wholly owned” by Fordstam Ltd, the vehicle through which the billionaire funded Chelsea. Starmer is likely to face questions over the future of the cash when Zelenskyy arrives in the UK on Tuesday. Both Starmer and the defence secretary, John Healey, expre