The UK imports a number of petroleum products refined from Russian crude, including jet fuel, gasoline and diesel. Sanctions prevent the direct export of Russian crude to Britain, but third party countries, like Turkey, China and India, can still import the oil to produce gasoline, diesel and jet fuel from Russia. The refining process changes the country of origin of the finished product, meaning even though the oil originated in Russia, the fuel can now be freely exported to western countries, including the UK, and sold on to ordinary consumers.  This sequence of events has been called the ‘refining loophole’.

The British-based non-profit group, Mission Ukraine UK, is campaigning for closure of the loophole. To support them, they would like you to write to your MP.  To help you they have drafted some suggested text. Click HERE to read and copy/load  down the text.

You can read more about the initiative here: http://www.russianloophole.com​.  Mission Ukraine UK is ready to answer any questions you may have about the loophole and their proposal to address it.  We need to urge the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and the Department for Business and Trade to support the implementation of  a sanctions mechanism that prohibits the supply of refined petroleum products made with Russian oil and thereby cuts off an important source of funding for Russia’s war on Ukraine.

Thank you

The matter has been covered by several media outlets:

BBC: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-68018660

Sky News: https://news.sky.com/video/how-is-russia-exploiting-loopholes-to-sell-oil-to-the-uk-and-eu-13131191/

The Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2024/apr/24/uk-helping-russia-pay-for-its-war-on-ukraine-via-loophole-on-refined-oil-imports