Ukraine says it is in active talks with the United Kingdom over new UK licensing rules affecting fuel products linked to Russian oil, even as London insists the measures do not represent any easing of sanctions against Moscow.
The Office of the President and Ukrainian diplomats are currently in “very active communication” with British counterparts to clarify the scope and implications of the decision, presidential communications adviser Dmytro Lytvyn said.
“Very active communication is currently underway between our diplomats, the Office [of the President], and the British side to clarify the details,” Lytvyn told journalists, including Kyiv Post.
UK opens route for refined Russian-origin fuel
The comments follow the UK government’s issuance of a General Trade License allowing the import of diesel and jet fuel refined from Russian crude oil in third countries, including India and Turkey.
According to the BBC, the measure took effect on Wednesday, May 20, and permits fuel products processed outside Russia to enter the UK market despite existing sanctions on Russian oil.
The license is described as “indefinite in duration” but subject to periodic review. It also extends certain provisions related to Russian seaborne liquefied natural gas (LNG) until Jan. 1, 2027.
London: no rollback of sanctions
UK officials rejected claims that the move weakens sanctions pressure on Russia, arguing instead that it is a technical adjustment tied to energy security and phased implementation.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the policy does not amount to lifting existing sanctions.
“So, these are new sanctions being phased in. This is not a question of lifting existing sanctions in any way whatsoever, and we will continue to work with our allies on further sanction packages,” Starmer said, according to PA Media.
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.
Political backlash in Westminster
The decision has drawn criticism in the UK, with Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch calling it “insane” to ease sanctions while the UK government continues to avoid fully developing North Sea resources.
Labour MP and Foreign Affairs Committee chair Emily Thornberry also warned the move could undermine confidence among Ukraine’s allies, saying Britain risks leaving loopholes it had previously pledged to close.
“We are talking about our allies in Ukraine who have been fighting a war bravely against Russia for years and years with our support,” Thornberry told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme.
“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. In fact, it seems to have got worse. People feel very let down,” she added.
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.