The UK government said on Wednesday that it had eased sanctions on imports of Russian jet fuel and diesel refined in third countries, amid spiralling fuel prices caused by the Middle East war.
The trade licence that came into effect immediately is of “indefinite duration” according to the Department of Business and Trade website, and will be periodically reviewed.
It will allow the UK to import Russian crude oil refined in third countries such as India.
The government also issued a temporary licence loosening sanctions on liquefied natural gas originating from certain Russian plants.
Britain imposed a stringent sanctions regime against Russia following the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, targeting oil exports as well as over 3,000 individuals and companies.
The decision follows a US sanctions waiver for Russian oil cargoes already at sea, which was extended Monday for the second time as its war against Iran squeezes global oil supplies and sends energy prices soaring.
The European Union criticised the US waiver extension on Tuesday at a meeting of G7 finance ministers that the UK was a part of.
