Trump Urges Zelensky to Stop Striking Russian Refineries as US Diesel Prices Hit Record High
President Donald Trump is urging Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to stop attacking Russian diesel infrastructure, arguing that the strikes are contributing to a worldwide fuel shortage that has pushed U.S. diesel prices to record levels.
Speaking to reporters during a visit to Ireland on Sunday, Trump said he had already discussed the issue directly with Zelensky. He argued that Ukraine has other military targets it can pursue without damaging facilities responsible for producing diesel.
“Mr. Zelensky has to do one thing: He has to stop knocking out diesel fuel in Russia,” Trump said. “There are plenty of other targets. Don’t hit diesel fuel. That’s hurting the world.”
The comments came after the national average price for diesel climbed above $6 per gallon for the first time. Diesel is critical to the U.S. economy because it powers commercial trucks, trains, agricultural equipment and other machinery responsible for transporting and producing goods.
Ukraine has intensified long-range drone attacks against Russia’s oil and gas infrastructure in recent months. Those strikes have reduced Russian refinery production, caused domestic fuel shortages and contributed to Moscow’s decision to restrict diesel exports.
Kyiv maintains that Russian refineries are legitimate military targets because oil and gas revenues help finance Moscow’s invasion and because refined fuels support Russian military operations. Ukraine has also pointed to Russia’s repeated attacks against Ukrainian energy infrastructure during the war.
Trump argued that the Russia-Ukraine conflict is a major factor behind the current diesel shortage. However, global fuel markets are also facing significant pressure from disruptions in the Middle East, where conflict has damaged energy infrastructure and restricted normal oil shipments through major waterways.
The International Energy Agency has warned that global refining and oil supplies are increasingly strained. Middle Eastern disruptions and damage to Russian refineries have combined to reduce available supplies while inventories are being depleted, placing additional upward pressure on refined fuel prices.
Russia has meanwhile lowered its oil production forecast for 2026 to its weakest level in 17 years and revised its fuel-export expectations as the war continues to disrupt the country’s energy industry.
Trump’s public appeal signals an effort to persuade Kyiv to change its targeting strategy as rising fuel costs increasingly affect consumers and businesses around the world. Whether Ukraine will scale back the refinery campaign remains uncertain, with Kyiv continuing to argue that weakening Russia’s energy sector is an important part of its effort to reduce Moscow’s ability to sustain the war.