Evading the sanctions: UK imports EUR 660 mn of oil products made from Russian crude – Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air
EnergyandcleanairFeb 05
Report: Russian Oil Entering UK, EU in 'Loophole'
The Facts
Since imposing sanctions over a year ago, the UK government has officially not imported any oil from Russia. According to a new analysis, however, a legal "loophole" has allowed millions of barrels of gasoline and diesel to be legally imported into the UK from countries such as India and China.
A study paper published by the advocacy group Global Witness said the UK imported an estimated 5.2 million barrels of petroleum products from refined Russian crude oil last year, which was then classified as originating in the origin of the nation that refined the product. The majority, 4.6 million barrels, was jet fuel.
The Spin
Pro-establishment narrative
Sanctions on Moscow are intended to restrict the flow of oil money that's fueling the Kremlin's brutal war in Ukraine. The UK and the EU must permanently close this so-called "loophole" by expanding and tightening their ban on all oil products from Russia, as well as restricting any third-party sales of refined Russian products. The global community owes it to Ukraine.
Establishment-critical narrative
Sanctions are not working. If the objective was to harm the Russian economy while assisting Ukraine, all it has accomplished is to wreak havoc on Europe. Now we know that the oil embargo is essentially a hoax funded with European tax dollars. Now that all other options have failed, it's time to turn to diplomacy.
Nerd narrative
There is a 16% chance there will be a bilateral cease-fire or peace agreement in the Russo-Ukraine conflict in 2024, according to the Metaculus prediction community.