President Trump is urging Ukraine to de-escalate attacks on Russian oil infrastructure, citing global diesel price concerns and the need for stability amid broader geopolitical tensions.
| PULSE POINTS |
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: President Donald J. Trump is pressing Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to halt long-range strikes on Russian oil refineries, arguing that the attacks are worsening a global diesel shortage as the energy market remains strained by the parallel conflicts in Iran and now Yemen. Trump raised the issue during a phone call with Zelensky on Sunday, with Ukrainian officials saying that the U.S. leader repeatedly focused on diesel supplies and wanted Russian fuel exports to reach global markets. 📺 DETAIL: On Monday, Trump said in a Truth Social post that Russia had “lost control of its Diesel Oil Industry” as a result of the “ridiculous” war, while maintaining that the refinery strikes are contributing to wider fuel-market pressures. The comments came after Ukraine struck the Gazprom Neft-owned Moscow Oil Refinery, which can process roughly 245,000 barrels of crude per day. Zelensky celebrated the strike, saying a key Russian oil facility and logistics site had been hit and arguing that the attacks target infrastructure supporting Moscow’s war effort. 💬 KEY QUOTE: “Mr. Zelensky has to do one thing. He has to stop knocking out diesel fuel in Russia. We spoke to Mr. Zelensky about it. There are plenty of other targets. Don’t hit diesel fuel, because that’s hurting the world.” – President Donald Trump in comments to the press on September 13 🎯 IMPACT: The dispute highlights the tension between Washington’s efforts to stabilize global fuel markets and Ukraine’s strategy of using strikes on Russian energy infrastructure to pressure Moscow. If the attacks continue, further disruptions to Russian refining capacity could add pressure to already strained diesel markets. A reduction in strikes could ease some supply concerns but limit one of Kiev’s tools for imposing economic costs on Russia for the war. 📈 DATA: Brent crude briefly fell to about $101.75 per barrel on Monday, the lowest since September 10, but U.S. diesel prices remain significantly elevated, accounting for nearly 30 percent of global oil demand. |
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) September 21, 2026
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