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UK Rejects Claims It Softened Russia Oil Sanctions
(MENAFN) The British government has pushed back against accusations that it weakened sanctions on Russia after approving a temporary permit allowing the import of diesel and jet fuel linked to Russian crude oil. Officials argued the measure was intended to prevent instability in global energy markets following tensions in the Middle East.
The authorization, which came into force on Wednesday, temporarily alters an earlier commitment by Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s administration to block fuel products derived from Russian oil, even if refined outside Russia. The arrangement leaves open the possibility for Russian-origin crude to reach the UK indirectly through refineries in countries including India and Türkiye.
Western governments have maintained sanctions and price restrictions on Russian oil exports since the escalation of the Ukraine war in 2022, aiming to reduce Moscow’s income from energy sales.
The British move came shortly after the United States extended a waiver permitting limited imports of Russian seaborne oil. According to reports, the exemption was designed to assist vulnerable nations dealing with supply pressures after disruptions linked to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz during the US-Israeli conflict involving Iran.
The decision triggered criticism from members of the Conservative Party. Former cabinet minister David Lidington described the policy shift as “an appalling betrayal of Ukraine.”
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch also criticized the government, writing on X that “after 18 months of ‘standing up to Putin’, the Labour government quietly eased the restrictions.”
Members of Starmer’s cabinet later rejected claims that sanctions were being diluted, saying the backlash resulted from unclear messaging. “We’ve handled this clumsily,” Business and Trade Department official Chris Bryant told Parliament, while apologizing for “giving the wrong impression.”
Starmer, who is facing mounting political pressure at home and calls for his resignation, defended the policy by saying the licenses were “short-term.” He also argued that the government was strengthening its overall approach through “a strong new package” of measures aimed at Russian liquefied natural gas and refined petroleum exports.
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