Trump Calls On Zelenskyy To Stop Attacks On Russian Diesel Facilities
President Donald Trump has called on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to stop targeting Russian diesel fuel as the attacks are causing a global shortage and diesel in the United States has hit a record high.
Trump was asked by a reporter on Sunday if he’d had conversations with Zelenskyy about the issue.
Zelenskyy “has to do one thing. He has to stop knocking out diesel fuel in Russia,” Trump told reporters on the sidelines of the Irish Open, adding that he had spoken to the Ukrainian president about it. “There are plenty of other targets. Don’t hit diesel fuel, because that’s hurting, that’s hurting the world.”
Ukraine has targeted Russia’s oil and gas industry for months with long-range attacks and Russia has responded with fuel rationing. In July, Russia banned diesel exports.
Diesel in the United States rose to $6.20 a gallon on average on Sunday, a new record, while regular gas is selling for $4.31 a gallon on average, according to AAA.
Zelenskyy has defended Ukraine’s tactics of striking Russian refineries.
The Ukrainian president posted video on June 28 of a Ukrainian strike on a Russian fuel facility.
“Last night, our long-range sanctions reached two oil refineries in Russia. The Slavyansk oil refinery in the Krasnodar region was hit – about 300 kilometers [186 miles] from the frontline,” Zelenskyy said in the post on X.
“We also reached a refinery in the Yaroslavl region, approximately 700 kilometers [435 miles] from our border. We continue our operations that weaken Russia’s ability to wage this war. Each of our long-range sanctions means fewer resources serving Russia’s war machine, and another step toward peace. We will continue to respond to Russian terror.”
Ukraine’s energy infrastructure has also been attacked by Russia, according to Zelenskyy.
“The Russians are burning warehouses with food and gas stations, pharmaceutical facilities and ordinary passenger trains, residential buildings and civilian businesses,” Zelenskyy said in a Sept. 12 post on X.
The International Energy Agency said in a September 2026 report that diesel and gasoil exports from Gulf countries averaged 390,000 barrels per day in August, just over one-quarter of their levels before the war with Iran began in February. Restricted traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has sharply reduced shipments from the region.
That report said that Ukraine’s attacks on Russia’s refining system have compounded the diesel supply issues.
The IEA said U.S. diesel prices surpassed $200 per barrel in early September, which was 94 percent above their pre-war level. Diesel and other similar fuels account for nearly 30 percent of global oil demand.