UK allows imports of diesel and jet fuel refined from Russian crude, drawing Ukraine criticism

Britain on May 20 issued a General Trade License permitting imports of diesel and jet fuel refined from Russian crude oil in third countries, a move that drew immediate criticism from Ukraine and domestic political opponents who said it weakens sanctions pressure on Moscow.

The license took effect on Wednesday, May 20, and allows fuel products processed outside Russia — including in India and Turkey — to enter the UK market despite existing sanctions on Russian oil. The license is described as "indefinite in duration" but subject to periodic review.

UK Trade Minister Chris Bryant apologized to Parliament for the handling of the decision. "We've handled this clumsily and that's entirely my fault and I apologize: we've ended up giving the wrong impression of what we're trying to do," Bryant said, adding that the government aims to strengthen the sanctions regime, not weaken it.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer defended the move, telling Parliament: "These are new sanctions being phased in. This is not a question of lifting existing sanctions in any way whatsoever." British Treasury Minister Dan Tomlinson said the measure is meant to "protect the security of supply for really important foundational goods in our economy such as jet fuel," calling it "right and sensible decisions" in comments to BBC Breakfast.

The decision follows a surge in fuel prices since the outbreak of the US-Israeli war with Iran in late February, which disrupted oil refining in the region and effectively blocked the Strait of Hormuz. European jet fuel prices rose from $831 per tonne in late February to $1,838 in early April, before falling to $1,375. Brent crude was trading at around $110 a barrel on May 20.

Ukrainian presidential communications adviser Dmytro Lytvyn said "very active communication is currently underway" between Ukrainian diplomats, the Office of the President, and the British side to clarify the details and implications of the decision.

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch called the move "insane" and accused the government of "choosing to buy dirty Russian oil." Labour MP and Foreign Affairs Committee chair Emily Thornberry said Ukrainians "feel very let down," adding: "They have looked to Britain as one of their most important allies, and they don't understand, given that we promised that we would stop this loophole in October, and we still haven't done it."

The Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) estimated that about £1.8bn worth of oil products made from Russian crude had been imported to the UK via India and Turkey since December 2022, when the first ban on Russian oil was imposed.

A separate time-limited license covering maritime transportation of Russian LNG from the Sakhalin-2 and Yamal projects runs until Jan. 1, 2027. The US extended a similar 30-day sanctions waiver for Russian oil shipments already at sea earlier in May. France was Europe's largest buyer of Russian LNG in April with €413 million ($485 million) in imports, according to CREA.