Trump Urges Zelenskiy to Halt Attacks on Russian Diesel Amid Global Fuel Shortage

President Donald Trump has called on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to stop targeting Russian diesel infrastructure, warning that continued strikes are worsening a global fuel shortage.

Diesel Prices Hit Record High

Trump’s comments come as the US national average diesel price rose above six dollars a gallon for the first time, according to price tracking data. Diesel is a critical fuel used across trucking, farming, shipping, and rail transport, making price spikes especially impactful on everyday goods.

Ukraine Defends Its Strategy

Ukraine has carried out a series of long-range drone attacks on Russian oil refineries in recent months, arguing that these facilities are legitimate military targets given Russia’s own repeated strikes on Ukrainian energy infrastructure. The attacks have significantly reduced Russian fuel output, leading to gasoline shortages within Russia itself.

Trump Points to Ukraine-Russia Conflict as Root Cause

Trump said the global fuel disruption is not linked to tensions in the Middle East, but rather stems directly from the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine. He said he has discussed the issue directly with Zelenskiy, urging him to focus on other targets instead.

Russia has also revised its own oil production outlook downward, citing pressure from the ongoing war, with output expected to reach its lowest level in seventeen years.