United Kingdom indefinitely allows import of diesel and jet fuel produced from Russian oil to third countries - OFSI

MOSCOW. May 19 (Interfax) - The UK has issued a license against sanctions against Russia, permitting the import of diesel fuel and jet fuel produced from Russian oil in third countries, the UK government reported.

The license comes into force on May 20, 2026 for an indefinite period of time, to be reviewed periodically by the UK Home Office. The Home Secretary has the right to change, revoke or suspend the license at any time, and will endeavour to publish any decision to revoke the license four months in advance, the government statement says.

In October 2025, the UK banned imports of petroleum products produced from Russian oil in third countries, the statement reads.

The EU announced previously that it would enforce the same ban. In its 18th package of sanctions, dated January 21, 2026, it prohibited the import of Russian petroleum products produced in third countries from Russian oil, obliging importers to provide proof of the origin of oil used in petroleum product production, with the exclusion of petroleum products imported from partner countries: Canada, Norway, the UK, the U.S. and Switzerland.

After the EU and the UK banned imports of Russian oil in late 2022, and later Russian petroleum products, Russia redirected most of its oil exports to other countries, primarily China, India and Turkey, which then increased exports of petroleum products to countries in Europe.