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“We’ve Handled This Clumsily”: UK Rejects Claims It Is Easing Russia Sanctions
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The United Kingdom has insisted that its sanctions regime against Russia remains among the toughest in the world, despite issuing temporary exemptions allowing certain imports of fuel linked to Russian energy supplies.
Speaking in the House of Commons, UK Trade Minister Chris Bryant said London was not removing any existing sanctions against Moscow. He aslo stressed that new restrictions introduced this week further tightened pressure on the Russian economy, as reported by The Guardian on May 20.
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“Putin must never be allowed victory in Ukraine and we will do everything we can as a government and as a country to debilitate and degrade the Russian war machine,” Bryant said. “That is precisely what our sanctions regime is designed to do.”
According to Bryant, the UK has sanctioned more than 3,300 individuals and organizations as well as hundreds of vessels linked to Russia’s so-called shadow fleet.
He stated that under new amendments to Russia sanctions regulations introduced in 2026, Britain will now prohibit not only imports of Russian uranium but also imports of Russian oil products refined in third countries.
“I want to make it absolutely clear that our sanctions regime today is tougher than it was yesterday or last week,” Bryant said. “We are not lifting any existing sanctions at all.”
He added that the overall effect of Britain’s sanctions measures would result in less Russian oil reaching global markets and reduced revenue for Moscow.
“As a result of all of the measures that we have taken, there will be less Russian oil on the market, not more. Russia will be poorer,” Bryant said.
The minister later admitted the government had mishandled communication around the measures, saying the policy had been presented poorly.
“We’ve handled this clumsily and that’s entirely my fault and I apologise to all honourable members. I think we’ve ended up giving the wrong impression of what we’re trying to do, we’re trying to strengthen the regime [of sanctions], not weaken it,” he added.
Just a day earlier, media reportes indicated that the United Kingdom introduced an unlimited-duration license allowing the import of diesel and aviation fuel refined from Russian crude oil in third countries.
The authorization does not include a fixed end date and will instead undergo periodic reviews overseen by the Home Secretary. The document also states that authorities will “endeavor” to give four months’ notice before terminating the measure.
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