Sir Keir Starmer has sought to reassure Volodymyr Zelensky of the UK's steadfast support for Ukraine, following criticism over a trade licence that allows the import of Russian jet fuel and diesel refined in third countries. Downing Street said the Prime Minister had “reaffirmed the UK’s steadfast support for Ukraine” in his call with Mr Zelensky and “set out our ongoing commitment to do everything possible to debilitate and degrade Putin’s war machine”.
The call came after Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch accused the Government of having “snuck out an announcement that it was removing sanctions on Russian oil”. She described the move as “insane”. However, Sir Keir told MPs the “strong new package” of sanctions announced on Tuesday went “well beyond” existing measures, and that the short-term licences were merely to “phase in” the new sanctions.
Trade minister Sir Chris Bryant later apologised for the Government’s “clumsy” handling of the issue, admitting there had been a miscommunication between the Department for Business and Trade and the Foreign Office. He said: “We’ve handled this clumsily and that’s entirely my fault and I apologise to all honourable members. I think we’ve ended up giving the wrong impression of what we’re trying to do, we’re trying to strengthen the regime, not weaken it.”
After the call, Mr Zelensky posted on X: “I am grateful for all the support the United Kingdom provides to Ukraine – our efforts to protect life. We coordinated positions on the diplomatic track regarding Russia’s war against Ukraine, and we are working to reinvigorate substantive diplomacy.”
