LONDON (AP) 鈥� The U.K. government has quietly watered down sanctions on Russian oil in an effort to shelter Britons from the cost-of-living squeeze triggered by the closure of the .
A trade license that came into effect Wednesday permits the import of Russian oil that has ben refined into jet fuel and diesel in third countries, such as India and Turkey.
The U.S.-Israeli war on Iran and Iran’s closure of the strait, through which about a fifth of the world’s oil usually passes, has sent fuel prices soaring around the world and sparked
U.K. Treasury minister Dan Tomlinson said the changes are 鈥渇or a time limited period and on a very specific issue.鈥�
Britain has been one of Ukraine’s strongest allies since , and the government insist its sanctions against Russia remain among the toughest in the world.
But lawmaker Emily Thornberry, who chairs Parliament鈥檚 Foreign Affairs Committee, said Ukrainians would 鈥渇eel very let down鈥� by the move. She said Ukraine鈥檚 allies should keep squeezing Russia鈥檚 oil industry, because it 鈥渋s absolutely crippling their economy.鈥�
has also eased Russian sanctions. Earlier this week, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent extended a 30-day sanctions waiver allowing the purchase of Russian oil shipments already at sea.
On Tuesday, finance ministers from the U.S., Britain and the other Group of Seven wealthy nations issued a joint statement reaffirming 鈥渙ur unwavering commitment to continue to impose severe costs on Russia in response to its continued aggression against Ukraine.鈥�
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