Oil Crisis Prompts UK To Defy US Ban
Defying the ban imposed by US President Donald John Trump, Britain has decided to import crude oil from Russia. Reuters has reported that the Government of British Prime Minister Sir Keir Rodney Starmer has quietly eased its own sanctions to permit the import of jet fuel and diesel refined from Russian crude oil due to the US-Iran War and the spiralling rise in fuel and gas prices triggered by the standoff in the Strait of Hormuz.
The British Government implemented the policy on May 20, 2026. Although London has not mentioned the expiration date, the Starmer Administration announced that it would periodically review the policy and amend or revoke it whenever necessary.
Interestingly, Britain would not import crude oil directly from Russia. Instead, it will import diesel and jet fuel derived from Russian crude oil processed in third-party countries, like India. It may be noted that the US officially banned imports of Russian crude oil and petroleum products in March 2022 to cripple Moscow’s war economy (after Russia waged a war against Ukraine). The embargo was subsequently expanded alongside global allies through mechanisms, like the G7 price cap, and direct targeting of state-owned entities, such as Rosneft and Lukoil, in an attempt to restrict Russian energy revenues.
How Far Can Europe Attack Russia Without Provoking A Counter-Strike?
Executive Intelligence Review, May 21, 2026: Despite the growing number of warnings, European leaders, led by the so-called Coalition of the Willing, are still not looking to engage in diplomacy with Russia. On the contrary, the rearmament drive and a war economy are their stated priorities, sold to the public under the narrative that Russia is preparing to attack Europe as soon as possible. What remains unsaid is that their policy is aimed at provoking such a response – most recently in the fact that several European countries have helped Kiev to launch drone and other strikes deep into Russian territory. The direct involvement of NATO member countries, not only in providing intelligence and technical and material assistance, but also in allowing the use of the Baltic States’ air space for Ukrainian attacks, clearly changes the nature of the conflict.
Repeated warnings from Russian officials, including from President Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin, have not been heeded. Perhaps they will listen to Dmitry Polyanskiy, an experienced Russian diplomat who is the current Ambassador to the OSCE in Vienna and former Deputy Ambassador to the UN (from 2018-25).
During a May 16, 2026 interview on the Deep Dive podcast, US Colonel (Retired) Daniel Davis asked Polyanskiy whether Moscow was ready to strike back at targets in Europe. In response, he stated that if the vital interests of Russia were in danger, “I don’t think we will hesitate and everybody should absolutely remember this”. Polyanskiy pointed to the fact that his country’s Nuclear Doctrine is in public domain and everyone “can see when and in what circumstances those weapons will be used”.
Russia has acted with restraint until now, including in Ukraine, stressed Ambassador Polyanskiy, adding that the restraint, motivated by concern for the populations, should not be confused with weakness. He warned that if Europe and NATO continue to cross Russia’s red lines, Moscow could strike and then, people would ask: Why Russia respond so harshly and so resolutely?. “But it will be too late,” added Polyanskiy.
In an interview with Pavel Zarubin transmitted on May 10, 2026, President Putin was asked if the West was “going too far” with the drone strikes into Russia. The President began his reply by asking: “What exactly is the West? I believe that it is the so-called globalist part of the Western elites. It is they who are fighting against us by proxy of Ukraine. Of course, they set themselves up pretty well in this respect, having provoked this conflict.” He went on to reveal some confidential information to back up his claim.
Putin recalled that the Russians and the Ukrainians had concluded an agreement in 2022 in Istanbul. And “then one colleague – well, why hide it? Mr Macron called me and said: ‘Ukraine cannot sign such historical documents with a gun to its head.’ This is a direct quotation; we have the tape of that conversation. ‘So what needs to be done?’ Withdraw the troops from around Kiev. We withdrew them”, stated the Russian President.
He further said: “And then another show business figure popped up, the then-Prime Minister of Great Britain. What did he say? He said that the agreement cannot be signed because it is unfair. Next, they promised assistance (to Ukraine) and started cranking up the confrontation with Russia, which is continuing to this day. I believe that this business is coming to an end, but nonetheless, it is a serious thing.”
Meanwhile, Putin admitted that there were “intelligent people” in Europe, saying: “I hope that these political forces will gradually return to power or will take power into their own hands with support from the overwhelming majority of European countries.”
Meanwhile,
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