The UK government has committed to banning imports of diesel and jet fuel made from Russian oil by 1 January 2027, Trade Minister Chris Bryant announced on Tuesday. The ban forms part of the government's package of sanctions on Moscow following the war with Ukraine.
In May, the government said it would gradually phase out the use of diesel and jet fuel refined in third countries from Russian crude oil as it introduced new sanctions, citing the need for extra flexibility due to global oil supply issues. The move prompted criticism from the EU, which warned it is "not the time to roll back sanctions" against Moscow.
“UK commits to banning Russian diesel and jet fuel imports by 1 January 2027 as part of sanctions on Russia.”
The temporary licence that currently allows those imports will be reviewed every two weeks, the government said, meaning it could be revoked sooner than 1 January. "The end date is a clear signal that we continue to ratchet up maximum pressure on Russia," Bryant said in a statement.
"I made a commitment to the House of Commons that we would review the temporary general licence for diesel and jet fuel on a fortnightly basis and lift it as soon as practicable," Bryant added. "Today we're confirming that the government will include an end date of 1st January 2027 in the licence at the latest and that we will continue to keep the licence under continuous review."
Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office Minister Stephen Doughty said: "These new measures that strengthen our sanctions will stop refined oil made from Russian crude from entering the UK through third countries. We are maximising pressure on Russia while maintaining stability at home, and we will continue to use every lever available to debilitate Putin's war machine and support Ukraine."
But the decision drew sharp rebuke from Sir Bill Browder, a longstanding critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin. "It's absurd. On one hand we are giving Ukraine billions to fight off Russia. On the other we're giving Russia billions for their diesel and jet fuel to buy weapons to attack Ukraine. For anyone to not see the connection and absurdity, they must be willingly blind," he told the BBC.
The announcement comes as global oil prices have been pushed up by the US and Israel conflict with Iran, as the effective halt of trade through the Strait of Hormuz has reduced global oil supplies. Before the conflict, the global oil benchmark Brent crude was trading around $70 a barrel, but is currently trading around $87 as a deal to end the conflict appears close.