Stop Bombing Russian Oil Infrastructure: Trump to Zelensky
Donald Trump urged Volodymyr Zelensky to halt Ukrainian attacks on Russian diesel infrastructure, arguing that refinery strikes have tightened fuel supplies and are “hurting the world” as U.S. diesel prices rise.
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U.S. President Donald Trump on Sunday told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to stop targeting Russia’s diesel infrastructure, arguing that the strikes are contributing to a fuel shortage with global consequences.
Trump said Washington had raised the issue directly with Zelensky and urged Ukraine to redirect its attacks toward other Russian targets.
Trump Presses Zelensky
“Mr. Zelensky has to do one thing: He has to stop knocking out diesel fuel in Russia,” Trump told journalists during a visit to the Irish Open in western Ireland, where the tournament is being held on a golf course owned by his family.
“We spoke to Mr. Zelensky about it. There are plenty of other targets. Don't hit diesel fuel. That's hurting the world,” he said.
Trump attributed the shortage to the Russia-Ukraine war rather than disruption originating in the Middle East.
The global shortage “isn't done by the Middle East; this is done by what's happening with Russia and Ukraine,” he said.
Ukrainian Strikes Hit Russian Refining
Ukraine has carried out a series of long-range drone attacks against Russian oil refineries in recent months.
The strikes have reduced Russian fuel production and contributed to gasoline shortages inside the country.
Kyiv, which is itself subject to repeated Russian attacks on energy infrastructure, maintains that Russian refineries constitute legitimate military targets.
Trump’s intervention puts direct pressure on Ukraine to narrow a campaign aimed at a significant part of Russia’s energy system.
U.S. Diesel Prices Climb
The dispute comes as diesel costs have risen sharply in the U.S.
The national average price exceeded $6 a gallon for the first time on Thursday, according to price tracker GasBuddy.
Diesel is widely used by trucks, trains, ships and agricultural equipment, giving disruptions to supply broader economic implications.
Russia Cuts Oil Outlook
Russia has also lowered its oil production expectations as the war weighs on its energy sector.
A government draft forecast seen by Reuters put Russian oil output this year at a 17-year low.
Moscow has also revised its fuel export projections for 2026 and 2027 because of the war.
Ahmet Koçak
Ahmet Koçak is a news editor at Clash Report based in Istanbul. He previously served as Deputy Managing Editor at Türkiye Today, helping launch the digital news platform in 2023, and spent three years as Senior Editor at Daily Sabah. His work focuses on breaking news, geopolitics, international affairs, and digital journalism.
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