Trump Tells Zelenskyy To Stop Attacking Russian Diesel Refineries: 'That's Hurting The World'

US President Donald Trump on Sunday said he had warned Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to stop “knocking out” diesel refineries in Russia because it was causing shortages and “hurting the world.”

“Zelenskyy has to do one thing. He has to stop knocking out diesel fuel in Russia. Let him go after targets, but not diesel fuel, because he’s causing a shortage of diesel,” he told reporters during his ongoing visit to Ireland.

Trump said the diesel shortage was not happening in the Middle East, but only by the ongoing war in Ukraine.

“We spoke to Mr. Zelenskyy about it. There are plenty of other targets. Don’t hit diesel fuel, because that’s hurting. That’s hurting the world. We don’t want him to hit diesel fuel,” he added.

Trump, 3 days after

US diesel hit $6 a gallon for the first time in history: “Zelenskyy has to do one thing, he has to stop knocking out diesel fuel in Russia. He’s causing a shortage of diesel fuel. This isn’t done by the Middle East, this is done by what’s happening with Russia… pic.twitter.com/5dSjUlIC2f

— The Hormuz Letter (@HormuzLetter) September 13, 2026

Ukraine has hit numerous Russian oil refineries hundreds of kilometres from its border with Russia, while Moscow has also intensified its long-range attacks in recent months, leading to a jump in civilian deaths. Kyiv has been firing record numbers of drones at Russia, while Moscow has been launching all-time high missile attacks.

Trump’s remarks come as Russia and Ukraine continue overnight waves of drone attacks. Two people were killed in Russia’s Tatarstan, according to local officials. At the same time, Ukrainian authorities reported Russian drone attacks on the Black Sea port of Odesa and a fire near a border crossing with Poland.

The Ukrainian drone campaign has caused fuel rationing across Russia, despite the country being a key oil and gas exporter, according to CBS News. Other Ukrainian strikes have targeted major Russian online retailers.

Diesel prices in the US hit a record average of more than $6 a gallon on Friday, as Ukrainian strikes on Russian energy infrastructure and disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz squeezed global fuel supplies, putting further pressure on American consumers ahead of the November midterm elections.