Dublin: US President Donald Trump has urged Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to stop targeting Russian diesel infrastructure, arguing that the attacks are contributing to a global fuel shortage.
Speaking to reporters in Ireland on Sunday, Trump said he had discussed the issue with Zelensky and urged Ukraine to focus on other targets.
“Mr. Zelensky has to do one thing: He has to stop knocking out diesel fuel in Russia,” Trump said, adding that the attacks were “hurting the world”.
Ukraine has intensified long range drone attacks on Russian oil refineries in recent months. The strikes have reduced Russian fuel production and contributed to shortages across parts of the country.
Kyiv maintains that Russian refineries are legitimate military targets as Russia continues to attack Ukrainian energy infrastructure.
The dispute comes as diesel markets face growing pressure. The US national average diesel price crossed USD 6 a gallon for the first time on September 10, according to GasBuddy data reported by Reuters.
Diesel is widely used by trucks, trains, ships and agricultural machinery, making disruptions to its supply significant for transport, food production and wider economic activity.
Russia has also lowered its forecast for oil production this year to a 17 year low and revised its outlook for fuel exports for 2026 and 2027, according to a draft government forecast seen by Reuters.
Trump linked the global fuel shortage primarily to the Russia Ukraine war, saying the problem was not being caused only by the conflict in the Middle East.
His remarks add a new dimension to the debate over Ukraine’s attacks on Russian energy infrastructure, as efforts to disrupt Russia’s war economy increasingly intersect with concerns over global fuel supplies.
