Trump tells Ukraine to stop striking Russian diesel as global crunch deepens

U.S. President Donald Trump on Sunday called on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to halt strikes on Russian oil refineries and other diesel infrastructure, saying the attacks are causing a global shortage that is "hurting the world." Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the Irish Open in Doonbeg, Ireland, Trump said he had raised the issue with Zelenskyy and urged Kyiv to pick other targets. U.S. diesel prices hit a record above $6 a gallon on Friday. Ukraine has for months hit Russia's refining system with long-range drones, prompting fuel rationing inside Russia and helping drive Moscow's July ban on diesel exports. The International Energy Agency has warned that disruptions to Russian refining, combined with a collapse in Gulf diesel and gasoil exports after the war on Iran curtailed Strait of Hormuz shipments, have tightened global supplies — Gulf and Russian diesel/gasoil once made up nearly 45% of seaborne trade. Kyiv says Russia's oil industry funds and fuels Moscow's war; overnight into Sunday, Ukraine claimed further strikes on Russian refineries, including in the Krasnodar region. Source: Reuters / AP Will Kyiv curb its refinery campaign under U.S. pressure, or keep hitting the industry that funds Russia's war? https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/trump-tells-ukraines-zelenskiy-stop-hitting-russian-diesel-2026-09-13/