Trump's pressure on Ukraine's Russia strikes
President Trump publicly urged Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on September 13 to stop striking Russian diesel refineries, blaming the attacks -- rather than his own administration's war with Iran -- for a global fuel shortage that pushed US diesel prices to a record national average above $6 a gallon. Speaking to reporters at his Doonbeg, Ireland golf club during the Irish Open, Trump said, 'Mr. Zelenskyy has to do one thing. He has to stop knocking out diesel fuel in Russia... There are plenty of other targets. Don't hit diesel fuel, because that's hurting the world.' Ukraine has spent months targeting Russian oil and gas infrastructure with long-range drone strikes, arguing the industry directly funds and fuels Moscow's invasion; the campaign prompted Russia to ban diesel exports in July and triggered domestic fuel rationing, with dozens of St. Petersburg gas stations running dry in late August. The International Energy Agency said in a September 11 report that both the Ukraine-Russia conflict and the ongoing US-Israel war on Iran, which has curtailed oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz, were compounding the global diesel crunch, with combined Gulf-Russia diesel exports down 1.6 million barrels a day from February levels.
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As it ran
14 September 2026
- Trump calls on Ukraine to halt strikes on Russian diesel fuel, citing a global shortage AP
- Why is Trump warning Zelenskyy not to hit Russian diesel refineries? Al Jazeera
13 September 2026
- Trump tells Zelenskyy to stop doing 'one thing' during attacks on Russia Fox News
- Trump calls on Ukraine to halt strikes on Russian diesel fuel, saying attacks are causing a shortage AP
- Trump Blames Ukraine for Global Diesel Shortage New York Times
- Trump tells Zelenskyy to stop hitting Russian diesel supplies Al Jazeera