LONDON (AP) — British officials have discreetly relaxed restrictions on Russian oil imports in a bid to protect citizens from rising living costs caused by the blockage of a crucial Middle Eastern shipping route.
New trade permissions that took effect Wednesday allow the importation of Russian crude that has been processed into jet fuel and diesel by third-party nations, including India and Turkey.
The conflict between the U.S.-Israel alliance and Iran, along with Iran’s blockade of the strait, has caused global fuel costs to skyrocket and raised fears about jet fuel availability. Approximately one-fifth of global oil typically moves through this waterway.
U.K. Treasury minister Dan Tomlinson stated the modifications are “for a time limited period and on a very specific issue.”
Since Russia launched its comprehensive invasion in 2022, Britain has stood as one of Ukraine’s most steadfast supporters, with officials maintaining that their Russian sanctions remain among the world’s most stringent.
However, lawmaker Emily Thornberry, who chairs Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee, warned that Ukrainians would “feel very let down” by this decision. She argued that Ukraine’s partners should continue pressuring Russia’s petroleum sector because it “is absolutely crippling their economy.”
American officials have similarly loosened Russian restrictions. This week, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent approved a 30-day sanctions exemption permitting purchases of Russian oil shipments currently in transit.
Tuesday saw finance ministers from the United States, Britain and other Group of Seven developed countries release a collective statement confirming “our unwavering commitment to continue to impose severe costs on Russia in response to its continued aggression against Ukraine.”
