UK's Johnson asked why he hasn't sanctioned Roman Abramovich

Chelsea soccer club owner Roman Abramovich attends the UEFA Women's Champions League final soccer match in Gothenburg, Sweden on Sunday, May 16, 2021. AP

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Wednesday declined to comment on whether sanctions would be imposed on Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich, but said the "vice" was tightening on those around Russian President Vladimir Putin.

"It's not appropriate for me to comment on individual cases at this stage," Johnson told parliament, when asked by Labour leader Keir Starmer why Abramovich, the owner of Chelsea soccer club, was not facing sanctions.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson speaks during a PMQs session at the House of Commons, in London, Britain March 2, 2022. Courtesy UK Parliament via REUTERS

"But be in no doubt that the actions that we've already taken ... are having an effect in Moscow by exposing the ownership of properties of companies in the way that we are," he said.

"They will have heard what the president of the United States had to say last night, the vice is tightening on the Putin regime, and it will continue to tighten."