UK Defers Russian Crude Diesel, Jet Fuel Import Ban Maritime Activity Reports, Inc. May 20, 2026 © Adobe Stock/le Britain said on Wednesday it will continue to allow imports of diesel and jet fuel refined from Russian crude in third countries, deferring a ban first announced in October, to help the country cope with supply issues caused by the Iran war. The decision was criticised by lawmakers in Britain and Ukraine who accused the government of easing pressure on Russia and backtracking on promises to stop Moscow profiting from oil production to fund its war with Ukraine. Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the measures were part of a broader sanctions package that increased pressure on Moscow and that allowing imports to continue was a way of phasing in the ban. "This is not a question of lifting existing sanctions in any way whatsoever," Starmer told Britain's parliament, adding that the government was not relieving pressure on Moscow. Trade department minister Chris Bryant said the measures were being taken "in the light of the situation in the Middle East" and that he intended to suspend them - effectively implementing the ban - as soon as possible. Under the carve-out, which takes effect on Wednesday, Britain has allowed imports of jet fuel and diesel refined in third countries such as India and Turkey that may be derived from Russian oil, opening up additional supplies as prices rise. Airlines in April warned about potential summer shortages of jet fuel supplies, but recently struck a more bullish tone on availability, although carriers worldwide have hiked fares and some have cut flights. BRITISH LAWMAKERS CHALLENGE MOVE Conservative opposition leader Kemi Badenoch told Starmer in parliament he had chosen to "buy dirty Russian oil" and that "that money will be used to fund the killing of Ukrainian soldiers", while senior Labour lawmaker Emily Thornberry said Ukraine had been "very let down". Ukrainian opposition lawmaker Oleksiy Honcharenko told Times Radio tha