Starmer takes Zelenskyy call after UK accused of turning back on Ukraine as Russian oil sanctions lifted

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The Prime Minister sought to reassure the Ukrainian leader as questions remain about UK sanctions on Russian oil, which critics say have been watered down.

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”.

Sir Keir told Mr Zelensky that the UK’s efforts meant there would be “less Russian oil on the market, with Russia weaker as a result”, a spokesperson added.

The call followed criticism of a “short-term” trade licence issued along with a new package of sanctions on Tuesday, allowing the import of Russian jet fuel and diesel refined in third countries.

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said it is “insane” to water down sanctions.

But on Wednesday ministers denied that the carve-out represented a watering down of sanctions, with trade minister Sir Chris Bryant apologising for the Government’s “clumsy” handling of the issue.

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After the call, Mr Zelensky said in a post 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.”

Sir Keir had been challenged by Mrs Badenoch over the sanctions at Prime Minister’s Questions earlier on Wednesday.

She accused the Government of having “snuck out an announcement that it was removing sanctions on Russian oil”.

But the Prime Minister said the “strong new package” of sanctions announced on Tuesday went “well beyond” existing measures.

He said the Government had imposed a raft of sanctions including bans on maritime services and refined oil products from Russia, but also issued two “short-term licences” to “phase in” the new sanctions.

Sir Keir told MPs: “This Government has phased in sanctions in this way before and the last government used exactly the same technique when they introduced sanctions.

“And when they did so, we supported them, because we could see the sanctions were the right thing to do to bear down on Russia.

“So, these are new sanctions being phased in. This is not a question of lifting existing sanctions in any way whatsoever, and we will continue to work with our allies on further sanction packages.”

Later, Sir Chris admitted the Government handled the issue poorly. 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 (of sanctions), not weaken it.”

Sir Chris added there had been a miscommunication between the Department for Business and Trade, which he represents, and the Foreign Office.