Trump Urges Zelensky to Halt Strikes on Russian Refineries as Global Diesel Prices Surge Amid Middle East Conflict

US President Donald Trump urged his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelensky, to stop targeting Russia’s diesel fuel through aerial attacks, claiming the strategy is harming the global economy as the war in Iran continues to drive up oil prices.

Ukraine has spent months striking Russian fuel infrastructure, which has severely reduced Moscow’s refining capacity and triggered widespread supply shortages. Consequently, Russia—the world’s second-largest diesel exporter behind the US—has banned foreign sales of its diesel.

During an official visit to Ireland on Sunday, Donald Trump stated that Volodymyr Zelensky needs to stop knocking out Russian diesel fuel to alleviate the ongoing shortages.

Amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, global oil prices surpassed $108 per barrel, pushing US diesel above $6 a gallon for the first time ever on Friday, according to AAA. Supplies have also been constricted by conflict in the Strait of Hormuz, where the US and Iran are battling for control of a vital waterway that previously carried about one-fifth of the world’s oil supply.

Additionally, Saudi Arabia’s East-West pipeline was halted on Friday following a drone attack launched from Iraq, further complicating the situation. However, Donald Trump asserted that the rise in diesel prices was driven by events in Russia and Ukraine rather than the Middle East.

According to Vortexa, Moscow exported about 150,000 barrels of diesel per day in August, marking an 81% drop from its five-year average due to the export ban. Meanwhile, Ukraine defends its actions by arguing that refineries are legitimate targets used to cut off funding to Moscow and reduce domestic support for the war, despite having its own energy infrastructure repeatedly targeted by Russia.

Diesel Prices Reach New Heights

Diesel costs have jumped more than 55 percent since the war with Iran began, outpacing a 40% increase in gasoline prices and putting diesel on track for its largest annual percentage increase on record, based on a CNN review of AAA data.

Part of the soaring price is due to damaged refiners in the Middle East and Russia. Andy Lipow, president of Lipow Oil Associates, noted that refiners have been maximizing production and cannot squeeze any more diesel out of the system. Export restrictions from China have added further upward pressure on prices.

According to a CNN analysis from July, Ukraine has struck Russian oil facilities over 300 times since 2022, severely disrupting supply and forcing gas stations to ration fuel. Hours before Donald Trump’s remarks, the military of Ukraine reported striking the TANECO refinery located in the city of Nizhnekamsk within Russia’s Tatarstan republic during an overnight operation conducted alongside the Security Service of Ukraine and the Main Intelligence Directorate. Tatarstan officials confirmed that two civilians were killed and several others were wounded in the attack.