Donald Trump urges Zelenskyy to stop attacks on Russian diesel refineries

Trump urges Ukraine to halt Russian diesel attacks

Donald Trump used a media briefing at the Amgen Irish Open, held on his Doonbeg golf course, to tell reporters that "Mr Zelenskyy has to do one thing: he has to stop knocking out diesel fuel in Russia". He added there are "plenty of other targets" and that the current diesel shortage is "hurting the world". The former president posted on Truth Social on 12 September that "Ukraine has agreed not to hit Russian energy targets. Russia has agreed to do likewise!".

Why diesel prices matter now

U.S. diesel prices have surged to about $6.20 per gallon, a rise of roughly 65 percent since the United States and Israel struck Iran in February, according to the American Automobile Association. Regular gasoline sits at $4.31 per gallon, up about 45 percent in the same period. The spike hits every sector that relies on diesel – from freight trucks to farm machinery – and is feeding into higher consumer prices.

The scale of Ukrainian strikes

Ukraine’s military said it hit the TANECO refinery in Russia’s Tatarstan republic on the day of Trump’s comments, a strike that killed two civilians. Since the war began, Ukrainian attacks have forced Russia to cut its fuel‑oil exports to 591,000 barrels per day in August, down from an average of 860,000 bpd in 2025, per Kpler data. Russia now supplies roughly 150,000 barrels of diesel a day worldwide, an 81 percent drop from its five‑year average.

Russian retaliation and civilian impact

Moscow has responded by targeting petrol stations near the front line, with at least 246 stations hit since April. Analyst Chris Beauchamp of IG Group told Al Jazeera that the attacks mainly pressure Russian civilians, noting long queues at stations in St Petersburg and elsewhere.

Reactions from Kyiv and Moscow

Zelenskyy has repeatedly said Russian energy sites are legitimate military targets, arguing that oil revenues fund Moscow’s war effort. He confirmed Ukraine struck two Russian oil refineries in early September, stating the strikes aim to curb the Kremlin’s financing.

Moscow publicly welcomed Trump’s remarks, but neither the Russian defence ministry nor the Ukrainian government has confirmed any formal agreement to stop hitting energy infrastructure.

Bigger picture: Middle‑East conflict and market dynamics

Energy analysts point out that the Ukraine‑Russia war is only a "small ingredient" in the current price surge. The United States’ renewed military action against Iran, including a drone strike on Saudi Arabia’s East‑West pipeline, has tightened global oil supplies. The International Energy Agency notes that combined diesel exports from Russia and the Gulf in August were 1.6 million bpd lower than in February, when they accounted for nearly 45 percent of global trade.

Political fallout for Trump

With the U.S. mid‑term elections looming, rising fuel costs have become a liability for the Republican Party. A Financial Times poll places Trump’s approval on economic handling at just 17 percent.

While a cease‑fire on Ukrainian strikes might offer a short‑term price dip, analysts warn any relief would be quickly erased unless the broader geopolitical tensions—particularly the Iran conflict—are resolved.