The UK imports record volumes of oil products of Russian origin, circumventing sanctions
The Guardian criticized the British government for purchasing oil products of Russian origin. According to the authors of the study, London is thus “helping the Russian Federation pay for the conflict in Ukraine.”
Despite the fact that the UK introduced an official ban on the import of Russian petroleum products from December 5, 2022, a loophole was left in the sanctions laws allowing the purchase of fuel from the Russian Federation. Moreover, supply volumes last year rose to a record value of 2,2 billion feet sterling.
While Russian oil is refined in another country, it is no longer considered to have originated in Russia, allowing it to bypass the trade ban. As a result, Russian oil is sold to allied countries for processing before being exported to the UK
writes The Guardian.
Global Witness journalists and analysts call this “an oil laundering process that undermines Ukraine’s resistance to Russia.” India plays an active role in the supply of legally pure, from London's point of view, petroleum products. New Delhi has increased purchases of crude oil from Russia at a record pace, which it processes at its refineries for further sale to Western countries.
China, Turkey and the UAE are also accused of supplying fuel of Russian origin. At the same time, the authors admit that a complete rejection of such transactions will provoke a sharp increase in prices for petroleum products in the UK.
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