Britain ‘writing the Kremlin cheques’ with Russian oil loophole

LONDON — A sanctions loophole that allows British planes to fill up with jet fuel made using Russian oil must be closed without delay, a senior MP has warned.   

Liam Byrne, Labour MP and chair of the House of Commons Business and Trade Committee, said that every month that passes without the U.K. implementing a promised ban “risks tens of millions of pounds still flowing to Russia’s war effort” against Ukraine.   

The U.K. outlawed direct imports of Russian oil in December 2022, 10 months after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Since then, the country has gradually widened its sanctions regime against Vladimir Putin and his associates. Prime Minister Keir Starmer warned in April 2025 that Britain would “crack down” on “energy revenues which are still fueling Putin’s war chest.” 

But according to new research, between the ban on direct imports coming into force in 2022 and the end of 2025, the U.K. has nonetheless imported £4 billion of jet fuel and other oil products made at refineries in India and Turkey, which run partially on Russian crude.  

The analysis, by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA), estimated that £1.6 billion worth of the products imported from these refineries would have been made with Russian oil.  

India remains the second-largest international buyer of Russian crude oil after China, while Turkey is also a major importer. Both process much of the oil in refineries, producing oil products such as jet fuel, which are then sold on to other countries. This so-called “refining loophole” is one of the major weaknesses in Western efforts to reduce Russia’s fossil fuel income, CREA said.  

With Putin’s war against Ukraine approaching its fifth year, ministers pledged in October to close the loophole, announcing a ban on oil products made with Russian crude in third countries. Responding to CREA’s new findings, a government spokesperson said they “expect” the ban to be introduced this spring. 

But with a similar European Union ban coming into force today, the U.K. government has “dragged its feet,” said Isaac Levi, an analyst at CREA.  

“Roughly one in six jet fuel shipments entering the U.K. comes from refineries running on Russian crude, and we’re buying it for a measly two percent discount,” said Levi. “The U.K. doesn’t need this fuel, but it is helping bankroll Putin’s war machine.   

“If ministers won’t act, they’re effectively allowing one in six flights to continue running on Russian oil molecules.” 

Prime Minister Keir Starmer warned in April 2025 that Britain would “crack down” on “energy revenues which are still fueling Putin’s war chest.” | Pool Photo by Sarmento Matos via EPA

A government spokesperson gave no explanation for the delay in implementing the ban, but said that the government was monitoring the impact of its sanctions measures “with input from industry.” A government official confirmed legislation will be needed before it can happen.

A spokesperson for Fuels Industry UK, which represents fuel suppliers, echoed the need for legislation, adding that companies were “in discussion” with the government on “how best to extend … measures to stop imports of Russian derived products which are refined in third countries.”

“For the U.K. to make this change, there needs to be confidence that there are adequate mechanisms in place to prove where fuels are from, as well as potentially changing contracts which may already be in place,” they added.

Airlines UK, an industry group representing the country’s aviation sector — one of the biggest in the world — declined to comment.

However, Byrne said the government needed to implement the ban as soon as possible. 

“The government is right to move to close this loophole, but speed is now critical,” he said.  

“Every month the ban is delayed risks tens of millions of pounds still flowing to Russia’s war effort. Announcements need to turn into action, and fast.”  

Levi, the CREA analyst, said the U.K. was lagging behind the EU.  

“Every month the U.K. delays banning oil products made from Russian crude, it’s effectively writing the Kremlin a cheque for around £44 million,” he said. “That’s £44 million a month flowing into Russia’s war chest — from U.K. imports — while ministers insist they’re doing all they can to support Ukraine.”  

A government spokesperson said: “We ended all imports of Russian fossil fuels following Putin’s illegal invasion of Ukraine, and have struck at the heart of his war funding by strengthening sanctions to cover Russian oil products refined in third countries. We regularly monitor the impact of these measures with input from industry and expect the ban to come into effect in spring 2026.”