Trump Urges Zelenskiy to Halt Attacks on Russian Diesel Infrastructure
DOONBEG, Ireland, September 14 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) - U.S. President Donald Trump urged Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Sunday to halt strikes on Russian diesel infrastructure, blaming the attacks for fuel shortages affecting countries beyond the conflict.
Speaking to reporters during a visit to the Irish Open at a golf course owned by his family in western Ireland, Trump said he had raised the issue with the Ukrainian leader.
“Mr. Zelenskiy has to do one thing: He has to stop knocking out diesel fuel in Russia,” he said.
“We spoke to Mr. Zelenskiy about it. There are plenty of other targets. Don't hit diesel fuel. That's hurting the world,” Trump added.
He attributed the global shortage to the Russia-Ukraine conflict, saying it “isn't done by the Middle East, this is done by what's happening with Russia and Ukraine”.
Ukraine maintains that Russian refineries are legitimate military targets. Its own energy infrastructure regularly comes under Russian attack, while its campaign of long-range drone strikes on Russian refineries has reduced fuel production and contributed to gasoline shortages across Russia, Reuters reported.
In the United States, the national average diesel price exceeded $6 a gallon for the first time on Thursday, according to GasBuddy data cited by Reuters. The fuel is used in freight transport, shipping and agricultural machinery.
Russia has also lowered its oil production forecast for 2026 to the lowest level in 17 years and revised its fuel export projections for 2026 and 2027 because of the war, according to a draft government forecast seen by Reuters.
Source: Reuters
