UK eases jet fuel sanctions

Britain’s government carved out jet fuel and diesel from a new ban on Russian-origin oil products this week, easing part of a sanctions package that had been presented as a tougher squeeze on Kremlin energy revenues. A general trade licence issued on May 19 allows those fuels into the UK when they are refined in third countries from Russian crude, even as the underlying ban on such products came into force on May 20. EU officials said the exemption was not raised at a G7 finance ministers’ meeting in Paris earlier this week. Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Trade Minister Chris Bryant said the licences were aimed at protecting consumers and businesses from energy-market instability. ### What exactly did Britain change? The Department for Business and Trade published a “General Trade Licence for sanctioned processed oil products” on May 19, licence number GBSAN0004, covering products otherwise banned under the Russia sanctions regime. The licence says the prohibitions do not apply to goods falling under commodity codes for diesel and jet fuel, provided they were processed in a third country from Russian crude. Separate UK guidance updated on May 19 said the broader measure was designed to stop Russian oil entering Britain “via the ‘back door’” through third-country refining. That guidance said the new ban on third-country processed oil products was introduced on May 19 and took effect on May 20. The 2026 amending regulations themselves describe the policy as a ban on importing refined oil products made from Russian-origin crude. (gov.uk) The explanatory memorandum says the import prohibitions were part of a wider package of new trade and transport sanctions. ### Which fuels are covered by the carve-out? The licence text names two categories. Paragraph 5 lists diesel under commodity codes 2710 19 42 and 2710 19 44, and jet fuel under commodity code 2710 19 21. (gov.uk) Politico reported that those two fuels account for 99% of UK imports from refineries processing Russian crude, citing figures from the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air. (legislation.gov.uk) That is why EU officials and sanctions critics treated the exemption as more than a narrow technical adjustment. ### Why did London say it needed the exemption? Keir Starmer told lawmakers on Wednesday that Britain had issued “two targeted short-term licenses to phase the new sanctions in and protect U.K. consumers,” according to Politico. (gov.uk) Chris Bryant told MPs the move was “partly” prompted by a need to shield British businesses from energy-market “instability” linked to the Middle East conflict. (politico.eu) NBC News reported the trade licence took effect on Wednesday and permits imports of Russian oil refined into jet fuel and diesel in countries such as India and Turkey. India Today separately reported that the move followed fuel-market disruption tied to the Strait of Hormuz crisis. ### Why were EU officials angry? Valdis Dombrovskis, the European Commission’s economy commissioner, said on Thursday that Britain’s decision “came as a surprise.” He said the plan had “not [been] flagged during our G7 finance ministerial meeting earlier this week,” where Chancellor Rachel Reeves was present. (politico.eu) Dombrovskis said G7 ministers had instead discussed maintaining pressure on Moscow because Russia was benefiting from higher energy prices linked to the war involving Iran. “Now is not the time to roll back sanctions against Russia,” he said, adding that the EU would continue to press partners, including Britain, to sustain or strengthen restrictions. (nbcnews.com) A spokesperson for Starmer said on Thursday that Britain had worked “closely with international partners including the EU to finalize details” of the package, while adding that the EU had been consulted on the “overall package.” Politico reported that Ukrainian allies also appeared to have been caught off guard. (politico.eu) ### How does this fit with Britain’s earlier Russia policy? (politico.eu) The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office said in October 2025 that Britain was taking “Russian oil off the market” as part of a wider sanctions push led by Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper and Chancellor Rachel Reeves. That package targeted Rosneft, Lukoil, shadow-fleet tankers and Nayara Energy Limited, which the government said had imported 100 million barrels of Russian crude worth more than $5 billion in 2024. (politico.eu) The latest licence does not repeal those measures, but it does suspend the new third-country processing ban for the two products most exposed to the UK market. The next formal reference points are already public: the amending regulations are on legislation.gov.uk, and the trade licence and updated importer guidance were both published on GOV.UK on May 19. (legislation.gov.uk) (gov.uk)