Question
The Prime Minister told President Zelensky recently that he stood “in complete solidarity” with Ukraine over President Trump’s dirty diesel deal over Russian diesel exports, and I support the Prime Minister on that. Earlier, the Foreign Secretary mentioned hitting Russia in the pocket, so why are his Government still importing jet fuel and diesel, albeit through other countries? They have weakened the sanctions against Russian diesel and fuel, which I would suggest is a complete inconsistency in UK foreign policy.
Answer
I have great respect for the right hon. Gentleman, but he is wrong about that. We have actually introduced a phased ban on maritime services in relation to gas, and that licence expires in January—I reassure him on that point. Beyond that, I am constantly seeking ways in my Department, with colleagues across Government, to ratchet up the economic pressure on Russia. I say to all our allies, including the United States, that that must be our aim, because that is the way we get a successful outcome in this conflict.
Verdict: AMBER (34/100)
The minister disputed the premise of the first question and said the Department is looking for ways to increase economic pressure on Russia, but did not explain why jet fuel and diesel are still reaching the UK through third countries. On the second question, the reply directly denied that sanctions had been weakened and pointed to a phased ban on maritime services. That measure, however, concerns gas rather than refined fuels, and a licence expiry date was mentioned without explanation. Overall the reply is only partly responsive and largely hedged, so the person who asked would probably need to return with a follow-up for specifics on refined products and the reasons behind the imports.
How we got there
| Question item | Coverage | Specificity | Rationale |
|---|---|---|---|
| Why the Government is still importing jet fuel and diesel, albeit through other countries, given its stated aim of hitting Russia in the pocket. | Partially Addressed | Hedged | The minister disputes the premise ('he is wrong') and says the Department is seeking ways to ratchet up economic pressure on Russia, but never explains why jet fuel and diesel are still being imported via third countries. The item's 'why' is left largely unanswered. |
| Whether the Government has weakened sanctions against Russian diesel and fuel. | Partially Addressed | Direct | The minister denies the claim that sanctions were weakened and cites a concrete phased ban on maritime services, which is a real tightening measure. However, that measure is described as relating to gas rather than diesel or fuel, and the reference to a licence expiring in January is unexplained, so the answer does not fully cover refined products. |