President Donald Trump has called on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to halt strikes on Russian diesel refineries, saying the attacks are creating a global fuel shortage. Trump made the remarks Sunday while attending the Irish Open at his golf club in Doonbeg, Ireland, after a reporter asked whether he had spoken with Zelenskyy following a recent conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
«Zelensky has to do one thing. He has to stop knocking out diesel fuel in Russia,» Trump told reporters. He said Ukraine could continue pursuing other targets inside Russia but urged Zelenskyy to steer clear of the country's diesel infrastructure. «Let him go after targets, but not diesel fuel because he's causing a shortage of diesel,» Trump said. «This isn't done by the Middle East. This is done by what's happening with Russia and Ukraine.»
The president said he had already spoken directly with Zelenskyy about the issue. «So we spoke to Mr. Zelensky about it. There are plenty of other targets,» Trump said. «Don't hit diesel fuel because that's hurting the world. We don't want him to hit diesel fuel. He's hitting diesel refineries.»
Trump's remarks come as Ukraine has targeted Russia's oil and gas infrastructure with long-range strikes, part of Kyiv's effort to hamper an industry that provides revenue and fuel for Moscow's war effort. Moscow launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine more than four years ago.
The strikes have put pressure on Russia's fuel supplies, prompting rationing in parts of the country and a Russian ban on diesel exports in July. The disruption has also added pressure to global diesel supplies, which have faced additional strain amid reduced oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz. Diesel prices in the U.S. climbed above an average of $6 per gallon on Friday, reaching a record high.
Russia has intensified its aerial attacks on Ukraine in recent weeks, including strikes involving ballistic missiles and drones, while Ukraine has continued targeting sites inside Russia. Russian and Ukrainian officials reported another round of large-scale drone attacks overnight into Sunday, with casualties reported on both sides.
The call to spare diesel refineries marks a rare public intervention by Trump in the tactical conduct of the war, even as his administration has pushed for an end to the broader conflict. Trump's negotiators, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, recently met with Putin in Moscow as part of that effort.
Ukraine has not publicly responded to Trump's comments. The strikes on Russian energy infrastructure have been a key element of Kyiv's strategy to reduce Moscow's ability to fund and supply its military operations, but they have also contributed to rising fuel costs worldwide.
Trump's remarks underscore the delicate balance Washington faces as it seeks to support Ukraine while managing global economic fallout from the war. The president's focus on diesel prices reflects concerns that sustained disruptions could harm American consumers and the broader economy.
As the war continues, the question of which targets Ukraine may strike remains a point of tension between Kyiv and its Western allies. Trump's latest comments suggest he wants to limit the economic spillover of the conflict even as he allows Ukraine to continue military operations against Russian targets.