Trump Urges Zelenskyy to Stop Strikes on Russian Diesel Refineries, Blames Attacks for Global Shortage

Reported By Facthabournews

US President Donald Trump has urged Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to stop attacks targeting Russia’s diesel fuel production and refinery infrastructure, arguing that the strikes are contributing to a global shortage of diesel and pushing fuel prices higher.

Trump made the comments on Sunday, September 13, 2026, while speaking to reporters during a visit to the Irish Open golf championship in Ireland. He said he had already discussed the issue with Zelenskyy and maintained that Ukraine could continue targeting other military objectives but should avoid Russian diesel infrastructure.

“Mr. Zelensky has to do one thing. He has to stop knocking out diesel fuel in Russia,” Trump said, according to reports of his remarks. He argued that the attacks were contributing to a shortage of diesel fuel and said the impact was being felt beyond the Russia-Ukraine battlefield.

Trump specifically rejected the idea that the Middle East conflict was solely responsible for the current pressure on global diesel supplies. He instead pointed to disruptions caused by the war between Russia and Ukraine, particularly Ukrainian attacks on Russian refineries and other fuel infrastructure.

The comments came as Ukrainian forces have intensified long-range drone attacks against Russian energy facilities. Several Russian refineries have reportedly been damaged, reducing domestic fuel production and contributing to shortages inside Russia. Moscow has also extended restrictions on diesel exports amid the worsening supply situation.

The developments have wider implications because diesel is heavily used in transportation, agriculture, construction and other major sectors of the global economy. Disruptions to diesel supplies can therefore increase transportation and production costs, with potential consequences for food prices and the wider cost of living.

US diesel prices have also risen sharply. Reuters reported that US diesel prices had surpassed $6 per gallon for the first time, adding pressure to an already strained global fuel market. The energy disruptions have been linked to multiple factors, including the war in Ukraine and disruptions associated with the conflict involving Iran and the Middle East.

Ukraine, however, has defended its attacks on Russian energy infrastructure as part of its broader military campaign against Moscow. Kyiv has argued that Russia’s energy resources help finance its war effort and that attacks against strategic energy facilities can weaken Russia’s ability to sustain military operations.

Trump’s latest comments therefore place him in a position of urging Ukraine to modify one aspect of its military strategy because of its international economic consequences, even while allowing for continued attacks against other targets.

The US president did not call for Ukraine to stop all military operations against Russia. Instead, he specifically objected to attacks on diesel production and related fuel infrastructure, saying there were other targets Ukraine could pursue.

“We spoke to Mr. Zelensky about it. There are plenty of other targets. Don’t hit diesel fuel. That’s hurting the world,” Trump said, according to reports.

The statement comes amid continuing efforts by Trump to influence the course of the Russia-Ukraine war and push the two sides toward negotiations. His latest intervention also highlights the growing connection between military decisions in the conflict and global energy markets.

For Ukraine, stopping attacks on Russian refineries could reduce pressure on global fuel markets but could also limit one of Kyiv’s strategies for putting economic and logistical pressure on Moscow. For Russia, continued attacks on refineries could further constrain domestic fuel supplies and affect its ability to export refined petroleum products.

The situation remains fluid, with the impact of the attacks likely to depend on the scale of future strikes, the ability of Russian refineries to restore production and developments in other major energy-producing regions.

Trump’s call therefore adds another dimension to the ongoing conflict, as concerns over military strategy increasingly intersect with global fuel prices, energy security and the economic consequences of the war.