UK Allows Russian-Refined Fuel Imports Amid Price Rises

Are Russian oil licences a hypocritical betrayal of Ukraine or a pragmatic move to ease the cost-of-living crisis?

Published 6 days ago

UK Allows Russian-Refined Fuel Imports Amid Price Rises

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Above: An oil rig seen through the mist on the Cromarty Firth on the north-east coast of Scotland on April 24. Image credit: Andy Buchanan/AFP/Getty Images

The Spin

Russian oil licences are a phased approach to a new sanctions package, not a rollback of existing measures, and similar approaches are used by other countries to protect consumers. Inflation is falling, the energy price cap dropped by £117 and the fuel duty cut has been extended. This government is delivering real cost-of-living relief while keeping pressure on Russia.

BBC News

Keir Starmer on X

Allowing Russian-refined oil imports while voting against North Sea drilling is a contradiction that undermines both energy independence and support for Ukraine. After 18 months of posturing against Putin, quietly issuing these licenceslicenses exposes a government with no consistent principles. Putin benefits whilstwhile the British public pays for an incoherent energy policy.

Kemi Badenoch on X

Boris Johnson on X

Dan Hodges on X

Sanctions on Russia have backfired for the West. As energy becomes more expensive in Europe amid an internatiionalinternational oil crisis, Russia goes from strength to strength through new deals with China and beyond. The UKU.K. and its partners have only themslevesthemselves to blame for its ideological follies.