US President Donald Trump has urged Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to stop attacks on Russian oil refineries producing diesel fuel, arguing that strikes on energy infrastructure are contributing to global fuel supply pressures.
Speaking during his visit to Ireland, Trump said his administration had asked Kyiv to avoid targeting Russian diesel facilities while continuing operations against other military targets.
“Mr Zelenskyy has to do one thing. He has to stop knocking out diesel fuel in Russia,” Trump told reporters, adding: “There are plenty of other targets. Don’t hit diesel fuel, because that’s hurting the world.”
Trump rejected suggestions that rising fuel prices were primarily linked to Middle Eastern supply disruptions, saying: “This isn’t done by the Middle East. This is done by what’s happening with Russia and Ukraine.”
US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner recently travelled to Moscow and Kyiv for talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy aimed at exploring potential pathways towards negotiations.
The meetings did not produce a breakthrough, but further discussions remain possible, with Kyiv indicating preparations for potential trilateral talks involving Russia, Ukraine and the United States. However, significant differences remain over issues including territory, security guarantees and the conditions of any future peace agreement.
The diplomatic discussions are taking place as fighting continues across the front line. The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) assessed that neither Russian nor Ukrainian forces achieved confirmed territorial gains in recent operations, while Russian forces continued pressure in areas including northern Kharkiv Oblast and Ukraine maintained long-range strikes targeting Russian military, fuel and logistics infrastructure.
ℹ️ The White House, Institute for the Study of War (ISW)
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