Ukraine: Reparation

Lord Callanan Excerpts

Monday 23rd March 2026 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Chapman of Darlington (Lab)]

The Prime Minister does not need me to remind him to raise the importance of standing shoulder to shoulder with President Zelensky and the people of Ukraine at every opportunity. I know that he does this and will continue to do so.

[Lord Callanan (Con)]

My Lords, I think there is unanimity across the House. I find myself agreeing on this matter with both the noble Lords, Lord Purvis and Lord Cameron, and the noble Baroness, in that Russia should fund the reparation of the appalling damages that it has inflicted on the people of Ukraine. To that end, can the Minister tell the House where the Government have got to in their pursuit of utilising the assets of the sale of Chelsea Football Club to help in that cause?

[Baroness Chapman of Darlington (Lab)]

We continue in our position that those assets should be used to support the people of Ukraine. We will continue to use whatever mechanisms we can to bring this about. It needs to be done in lockstep with our partners and that is the approach we have taken. We will act within the law, because we think that is the right thing to do. However, he is right to raise this and there is money there that should be going to the people of Ukraine—that is what was promised.