U.S. President Donald Trump on Sunday called on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to stop targeting Russian diesel infrastructure, saying the attacks were causing a shortage of the fuel that is “hurting the world”.
– A wave of long-distance Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian oil refineries in recent months has reduced that country’s fuel production, triggering gasoline shortages across the country.
– Ukraine, which faces regular Russian attacks on its own energy infrastructure, says refineries are legitimate military targets.
– The U.S. national average price for diesel, which is used by trucks, trains, ships and farm equipment, rose over $6 a gallon for the first time on Thursday, according to price tracker GasBuddy.
– “Mr. Zelenskiy 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, which is being held in the west of Ireland on a golf course owned by his family.
– “We spoke to Mr. Zelenskiy about it. There are plenty of other targets. Don’t hit diesel fuel. That’s hurting the world,” he said.
– The global shortage “isn’t done by the Middle East, this is done by what’s happening with Russia and Ukraine,” Trump added.
– Russia downgraded its oil output forecast for this year to a 17-year low and revised its fuel exports outlook for 2026 and 2027 due to the war, according to a government draft forecast seen by Reuters.