Trump urges Zelenskyy to halt Russian diesel strikes — SkimNews
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- Trump called on Zelenskyy to halt strikes on Russian oil refineries and diesel infrastructure on September 13, 2026, telling reporters at the Irish Open that 'that's hurting the world' and that 'there are plenty of other targets.'
- U.S. diesel prices hit a record on September 11, 2026, surpassing $6 a gallon on average, with fuel costs weighing on Americans ahead of November mid-term elections.
- Ukraine's long-range strikes on Russia's oil and gas industry have gone on for months, prompting Moscow to ban diesel exports in July and triggering fuel rationing inside Russia.
- The International Energy Agency reported that Gulf countries' net diesel and gasoil exports in August were 'just over a quarter' of pre-Iran-war levels, and that Gulf and Russian exports previously accounted for almost 45% of global seaborne trade.
- Russia has ramped up its own air campaign against Ukraine, deploying ballistic missiles and jet-powered drones against Ukraine's power grid ahead of winter in what officials say is meant to demoralise civilians.
- Kyiv justifies its strikes on Russian oil infrastructure by arguing the industry both funds and directly fuels Moscow's more than four-year-old invasion of Ukraine.
Why it matters: Americans face record diesel costs above $6/gallon ahead of November midterms, creating direct domestic political pressure on Trump. His demand to spare Russian oil infrastructure sits in direct conflict with Kyiv's stated rationale that those same revenues fund Putin's war — and Russia is simultaneously intensifying strikes on Ukraine's power grid ahead of winter, leaving Zelenskyy asked to de-escalate while Moscow escalates.
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