The UK has eased some sanctions on Russian oil products starting Wednesday, May 20, amid the ongoing energy price surge due to the war in Iran.
The BBC, citing a General Trade License issued by the British government, said the easing measures apply to diesel and jet fuel refined from Russian crude in third countries starting Wednesday.
The license said the easing of restrictions is of “indefinite duration and shall be periodically reviewed by the Secretary of State.”
Easing measures on Russian seaborne liquified natural gas (LNG) and related services are set to run until Jan. 1, 2027.
The BBC said the latest decision effectively means jet fuel refined in India from Russian crude, as well as fuels refined in Turkey, could enter the UK.
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” in a comment to BBC Breakfast, calling it “right and sensible decisions” despite London’s vow to pressure Russia’s economy in support of Ukraine.
In April, Europe’s aviation industry warned that the global energy shortage caused by the US / Israeli war in Iran could lead to a jet-fuel crisis ahead of peak tourist seasons.
London’s move also mirrored a recent decision from Washington to extend the Russian oil waivers after a brief, two-day pause.
Experts question effectiveness of easing measures
Robin Mills, chief executive of Dubai-based energy consultancy Qamar Energy, said the measures “[send] a negative signal” and questioned their effectiveness.
“In that sense, this measure looks unnecessary, it’s not going to bring down prices but it’s also not going to attack the shortage that probably wasn’t going to happen anyway
Mills told BBC Radio 4’s Today program.
The decision also drew the ire of some in the Conservative and Labour parties.
Dame Emily Thornberry, the Labour chair of the foreign affairs select committee, drew parallels to the US’s Russian oil waiver extension.
“Just because other countries are behaving in the wrong way, does not mean we should join them,” Thornberry told BBC Radio 4’s Today program.
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said London had “quietly” allowed Russian oil products into the country “after 18 months of ‘standing up to [Kremlin leader Vladimir] Putin.’”
Contradictory stance from Europe
The UK has previously been criticized for its lackluster enforcement of sanctions against Russia’s “shadow fleet” despite its pledge to crack down on the vessels.
As of April 2026, London has yet to seize a single shadow-fleet vessel, reportedly due to interdepartmental disputes over who should foot the bill.
Despite the easing measures, a UK government spokesperson told the BBC that London is stepping up its measures, including “restrictions on the sale of refined oil products derived from Russian crude oil and the import, supply and delivery to third countries of Russian uranium.”
“The sanctions also include a new maritime services ban on Russian LNG which will progressively restrict Russia’s access to the UK’s world-leading shipping and insurance services, disrupting their ability to transport Russian LNG,” the person added, despite the latest license authorizing the “maritime transportation of liquefied natural gas.”
A month after the war in Iran started, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer had warned of a “fierce storm” to the British economy, announcing domestic measures to curb the price hike, but the latest measures suggest the UK is going beyond domestic measures to relieve the crisis as the war in Iran drags on despite some lull in fighting.
Europe has also vowed to choke off Moscow’s war chest via energy sanctions, though some have shown contradictory actions.
In response to the US’s Russian oil waivers, French President Emmanuel Macron said the Strait of Hormuz’s shutdown “in no way” justifies sanction relief measures – but according to the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA), France has been Europe’s largest buyer of Russian LNG in April with €413 million ($485 million) in LNG imports.