The influence of the isothermal annealing conditions in air (at 560 and 625°C for 1000 h) on the deformation behavior of a high-temperature VT18U titanium alloy under tension is studied. The plasticity of the alloy at room temperature decreases from 14 to ≈5% after annealing at the investigated temperatures. The thickness of the gas-saturated layer is 17 and 42 μm after annealing at 560 and 625°C, respectively. The main factor determining the plasticity of the alloy in the oxidized state is the oxygen content gradient in the gassaturated layer.