US President Donald Trump has urged Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to cease attacks on Russian oil refineries and facilities associated with diesel production and distribution, citing concerns that these actions are exacerbating a global fuel shortage. Trump’s comments come in the wake of diesel prices in the United States surpassing $6 per gallon, a new record high. He suggested that Ukraine should redirect its military efforts away from Russian diesel infrastructure and target other military objectives instead.
Ukraine has been intensifying its focus on Russia’s oil and gas sector, employing long-range strikes that have disrupted refining operations and contributed to fuel shortages within Russia. Compounding the issue, Moscow has imposed restrictions on diesel exports, further constraining supplies on the global market. The situation is aggravated by disturbances in oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz amid conflicts involving Iran. The International Energy Agency reported that diesel and gasoil exports from Gulf countries plummeted to just over a quarter of their levels prior to the conflict as of August.
Kyiv maintains that Russia’s energy industry is a significant financier of its military operations in Ukraine, which justifies their continued strikes on Russian oil infrastructure, including refineries and storage facilities. In response, Russia has ramped up its attacks on Ukrainian cities and infrastructure, with recent overnight strikes hitting Odesa and other locations, resulting in casualties and damage to civilian and energy structures.
The conflict has seen both Russian and Ukrainian forces engage in extensive drone warfare over the weekend. Reports indicate that Ukrainian strikes targeted Russian industrial areas, while Kyiv has accused Russian drones of striking residential and strategic infrastructure. The escalation in fuel prices is becoming a pressing issue in the United States, especially with the approach of the November midterm elections. Trump’s appeal to Ukraine to lessen its assaults on Russian energy assets underscores the growing anxiety over the war’s impact on global fuel availability.