Oleg Ustenko, economic advisor to Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky, says the UK government’s continuing acceptance of Russian oil amounts to British motorists funding the attack on Ukraine.
He tells the BBC: “I am shocked and disappointed beyond words Britain has allowed this to happen.
“This is blood oil diesel. It will be sold for money and that money was used by Putin to buy weapons and ammunition that are killing Ukranians. It is literally true that your purchase of these kinds of oil has killed Ukranian children.”
His comments came as an oil tanker from Russia, which was not breaking sanctions and which was registered in the Marshall Islands in a common international shipping practice, arrived on the Thames today.
Earlier this week, Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng said the UK would phase out imports of Russian oil – which make up around 8% of the country’s supplies – by the end of the year.
But Ustenko is urging the British public to put pressure on businesses who are still buying Russian energy now.
“This is a time when you have to pick a side,” he says.
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