Roman Abramovich was forced to sell the club after being placed under sanction by the UK Government over his links to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

The UK firm, which is based in Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire, said last year that it was cutting its global workforce to help reduce costs.

The DUP leader described the heated Oval Office encounter between Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky as ‘appalling’ and ‘destructive’.

Lord Mandelson, the UK’s ambassador in Washington, suggested Ukraine should commit to a ceasefire and ‘defy the Russians to follow’.