Trump Urges Zelenskyy to Halt Attacks on Russian Diesel

On September 14, 2026, during a visit to the Republic of Ireland, U.S. President Donald Trump called on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to stop targeting Russian diesel facilities.

Trump argued that such attacks are exacerbating global fuel shortages and driving up prices, which is particularly concerning ahead of the November midterm elections in the U.S. He stated, “Mr. Zelenskyy has to do one thing: he has to stop knocking out diesel fuel in Russia,” suggesting that Ukraine should consider alternative targets in its ongoing conflict with Russia.

Ukraine has intensified long-range drone strikes on Russian energy infrastructure, which Kyiv defends as legitimate military targets. The American Automobile Association reported that the national average price of diesel in the U.S. reached a record $6.06 per gallon, significantly higher than $3.71 a year earlier.

Trump attributed the rising diesel prices to the Russia-Ukraine conflict rather than the Middle East, despite the International Energy Agency noting that both conflicts are affecting global diesel supplies.