Novak says countries are lifting Russian oil sanctions because markets cannot function without it

MOSCOW, May ​20 (Reuters) - ⁠Russian Deputy ​Prime Minister Alexander Novak said ​on ‌Wednesday that some ⁠countries were lifting sanctions ⁠on ​Russian oil because global markets cannot function without ​it, ‌the state TASS news agency reported.

Britain issued ​two licences on ‌Tuesday to allow imports of diesel and ‌jet fuel refined abroad from Russian crude ​to shore up supply.

British Prime ‌Minister Keir Starmer denied on Wednesday that ⁠the ⁠changes meant ‌the government was easing ​its pressure ​on Moscow. (Reporting ‌by Reuters, Writing by Felix Light Editing by Andrew Osborn)