United States President, Donald Trump, has urged Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to halt attacks on Russian refineries, blaming the strikes for worsening the global diesel shortage as oil prices surge amid the war involving the United States and Iran.
Ukraine has stepped up drone attacks on Russian oil facilities in recent months, targeting refineries and other energy infrastructure in an effort to disrupt Moscow’s fuel supplies and war finances.
The attacks have significantly reduced Russia’s refining capacity, contributing to domestic shortages and prompting Moscow to restrict diesel exports.
Speaking during an official visit to Ireland on Sunday, Trump said Ukraine should stop attacking Russian diesel production facilities.
“Mr. Zelensky has to do one thing. He has to stop knocking out diesel fuel in Russia…because he’s causing a shortage of diesel,” Trump said.
Diesel prices have climbed sharply as disruptions linked to the Middle East conflict add pressure to an already strained global fuel market.
The price of diesel in the United States exceeded $6 per gallon on Friday for the first time, according to AAA, while global crude prices rose above $108 per barrel.
The conflict around the Strait of Hormuz has further tightened oil supplies, with the waterway previously carrying about one-fifth of global oil shipments.
Saudi Arabia’s East-West oil pipeline was also halted on Friday following a drone attack launched from Iraq, adding to concerns over global energy supplies.
However, Trump rejected the suggestion that the Middle East conflict was responsible for the increase in diesel prices, instead pointing to developments in the Russia-Ukraine war.
“But Trump said the rise in diesel prices wasn’t “done by the Middle East,” instead attributing it to “what’s happening in Russia and Ukraine.”
Ukraine maintains that Russian refineries are legitimate military targets because attacks on the facilities can weaken Moscow’s ability to finance the war.
Ukrainian forces have reportedly struck Russian oil facilities more than 300 times since the conflict began in 2022.
Hours before Trump’s comments, Ukraine’s military announced that it had attacked the TANECO oil refinery in Nizhnekamsk, in Russia’s Tatarstan region, in a joint operation involving the country’s Security Service and military intelligence.
Tatarstan officials said two civilians were killed and others injured in the attack.
