UK Accused of Aiding Russia’s War Effort by Importing Refined Russian Oil

The UK has faced accusations of supporting Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine by importing significant quantities of refined oil from nations that process Russian fossil fuels. In 2023, the UK imported refined oil worth £2.2bn from India, China, and Turkey, which are known to import crude oil from Russia. This represents a substantial increase from the £434.2m worth of imports in 2021. Lela Stanley, a senior investigator at Global Witness, condemned the UK’s actions, stating that the country continues to receive millions of barrels of fuel made from Russian oil. She emphasized that the government must close this loophole to prevent further aid to Russia’s war efforts. The revelation comes amidst President Joe Biden’s announcement of his immediate signing of a bill providing £49bn in military aid to Ukraine. The Pentagon has indicated that the delivery of weapons and equipment to Ukraine will begin within days.

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