Trump urges Ukraine to cease attacks on Russian diesel refineries amid global price surge
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During a visit to Ireland, President Donald Trump asked Ukraine to stop targeting Russian oil facilities, saying the strikes were driving up diesel prices, while a senior European official suggested the U.S. was using Kyiv as a scapegoat.
U.S. President Donald Trump told reporters on Sunday that Ukraine should halt drone and missile strikes on Russian oil refineries, which he said were contributing to a worldwide rise in diesel prices. Speaking on the grounds of his Doonbeg golf course in County Clare, Ireland, Trump said his administration had asked President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to avoid targeting diesel-producing sites, adding that the shortage was not caused by the United States’ conflict with Iran.
"Mr Zelenskyy has to do one thing. He has to stop knocking out diesel fuel in Russia," Trump said. "Let him go after targets but not diesel fuel, because he’s causing a shortage of diesel fuel."
The president emphasized that the spike was linked to the Russia-Ukraine war rather than Middle-Eastern oil disruptions. He reiterated that the United States had communicated the request to Kyiv and suggested other Russian targets could be pursued.
A senior European official involved in U.S.-mediated talks between Moscow and Kyiv, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the administration was looking for a scapegoat ahead of the November midterm elections. The official argued that Russian diesel exports are not a major source for U.S. consumption and noted Trump’s claim that America can supply ample oil.
"This administration is blaming Ukraine because they do not know what to do with their war [in Iran]," the official said.
Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent have previously linked Ukrainian attacks on Russian energy infrastructure to the diesel shortage. The European official called for a reciprocal energy ceasefire, stating that Russia must also cease attacks on Ukraine’s energy grid.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told a news service that Moscow would not suspend its operations during negotiations, saying the country remained ready for talks but would continue its “special military operation.”