Starmer criticized for easing Russia sanctions

LONDON — Keir Starmer is facing criticism from leadership rivals and opposition parties over his government’s decision to ease sanctions on jet fuel and diesel made with Russian crude oil.

Labour leadership contender Wes Streeting is expected to oppose the move in a House of Commons statement later on Wednesday, according to a person familiar with his thinking.

Conservative Opposition Leader Kemi Badenoch called the move “insane” while pro-Ukraine campaigners warned that the move would lead to “celebrations” in the Kremlin.

Ministers slipped out the sanctions licence with no publicity on Tuesday, granting jet fuel and diesel imports an indefinite reprieve from a planned ban on oil products made using Russian crude in India and other third countries.

The U-turn comes amid concerns over jet fuel and diesel supplies sparked by the U.S. and Israeli war on Iran and Tehran’s effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

Nonetheless, it is surprising, as supply concerns have eased in recent days with analysts and aviation executives saying jet fuel stocks would hold up over the summer.

The expected intervention from Streeting — who resigned last week as Health Secretary and has pledged to put himself forward to replace Starmer as Labour leader in a widely-anticipated contest — will increase pressure on the government to change course.

Leadership rival Andy Burnham was also approached for comment.

The U.K. has banned direct imports of Russian coal, gas and oil since the Kremlin’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. But a loophole has seen it import more than £4 billion of jet fuel and other oil products made at refineries in third countries that run, at least in part, on Russian crude.

Ministers pledged earlier this year they would close the loophole in the spring; a commitment the government was still making as recently as last month. However, their position appears to have shifted following shockwaves in the energy market caused by the conflict in the Middle East. The Trump administration has also eased energy sanctions on Russia in recent weeks.

Conservative Leader Kemi Badenoch contrasted the decision to ease sanctions on Russian-origin oil products with the Labour government’s plan to restrict exploration for domestically-sourced oil. “We are now importing from Russia instead of drilling in the North Sea,” she said in a post on X.

Alexander Kirk, sanctions campaigner at the Urgewald group, said: “Celebrations will be happening in the Kremlin today. Russian state media is already seizing on this as proof that Western resolve can be weakened when fuel prices rise.

“The danger here,” Kirk added, “is not just the economic signal, but the political message it sends. Moscow will read this as weakness.”

A government spokesperson told the BBC that ministers were “committed to strengthening our sanctions on Russia” but would also protect “critical supply chains.” The government was approached for further comment.