Notable developments in Russo-Ukraine War 2
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https://www.politico.eu/article/eu-s...sia-sanctions/
MAY 21, 2026 2:53 PM CET
BY CHARLIE COOPER AND GREGORIO SORGIBRUSSELS — The EU’s economy chief criticized the U.K.’s decision to loosen planned sanctions on Russian-origin jet fuel and diesel without giving prior notice to fellow G7 allies.
The U.K. issued a sanctions licence on Tuesday exempting jet fuel and diesel from a new import ban on oil products made from Russian crude but refined in India or other third countries, a decision which “came as a surprise,” according to Economy Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis.
During a press conference on Thursday, the Latvian economist took aim at the U.K. for failing to raise its plans during the meeting of G7 finance ministers, which took place in Paris on Monday and Tuesday, and where U.K. Chancellor Rachel Reeves was in attendance.
“It was not flagged during our G7 finance ministerial meeting earlier this week, so came as a surprise,” Dombrovskis said.
“What we were discussing in G7 [is] actually that now is not the time to roll back sanctions against Russia because Russia is actually the country that is benefiting from the war in Iran and having substantial windfall profits due to the higher energy prices,” he added.
“It is important to sustain and, if anything, strengthen sanctions against Russia in [the] current situation and that’s the point we’ll continue to insist on with our international partners including the U.K.”
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer defended the move on Wednesday, telling MPs that the U.K. had issued “two targeted short-term licenses to phase the new sanctions in and protect U.K. consumers.”
The move was “partly” prompted by the need to protect British businesses from “instability” in energy markets sparked by the Middle East conflict, Trade Minister Chris Bryant told MPs on Wednesday.
According to figures from the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air, the two fuels represent 99 percent of U.K. imports from refineries processing Russian crude, meaning their exemption effectively neuters the new sanction policy, which was announced in October last year. The EU implemented a similar ban in January.
BY CHARLIE COOPER AND GREGORIO SORGIBRUSSELS — The EU’s economy chief criticized the U.K.’s decision to loosen planned sanctions on Russian-origin jet fuel and diesel without giving prior notice to fellow G7 allies.
The U.K. issued a sanctions licence on Tuesday exempting jet fuel and diesel from a new import ban on oil products made from Russian crude but refined in India or other third countries, a decision which “came as a surprise,” according to Economy Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis.
During a press conference on Thursday, the Latvian economist took aim at the U.K. for failing to raise its plans during the meeting of G7 finance ministers, which took place in Paris on Monday and Tuesday, and where U.K. Chancellor Rachel Reeves was in attendance.
“It was not flagged during our G7 finance ministerial meeting earlier this week, so came as a surprise,” Dombrovskis said.
“What we were discussing in G7 [is] actually that now is not the time to roll back sanctions against Russia because Russia is actually the country that is benefiting from the war in Iran and having substantial windfall profits due to the higher energy prices,” he added.
“It is important to sustain and, if anything, strengthen sanctions against Russia in [the] current situation and that’s the point we’ll continue to insist on with our international partners including the U.K.”
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer defended the move on Wednesday, telling MPs that the U.K. had issued “two targeted short-term licenses to phase the new sanctions in and protect U.K. consumers.”
The move was “partly” prompted by the need to protect British businesses from “instability” in energy markets sparked by the Middle East conflict, Trade Minister Chris Bryant told MPs on Wednesday.
According to figures from the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air, the two fuels represent 99 percent of U.K. imports from refineries processing Russian crude, meaning their exemption effectively neuters the new sanction policy, which was announced in October last year. The EU implemented a similar ban in January.
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