Amid rising concerns over a global fuel shortage, former US President Donald Trump has urged Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to cease attacks on Russian oil refineries and other facilities critical to diesel production and distribution. Trump’s comments came in response to the United States experiencing record-high diesel prices, which have surpassed $6 per gallon. He advised Ukraine to shift its focus away from Russian diesel infrastructure and concentrate on alternative military objectives.
The conflict has seen Ukraine increasingly targeting Russia’s oil and gas sectors with long-range strikes, which have disrupted refining operations and exacerbated fuel shortages within Russia. Compounding the issue, Moscow’s decision to limit diesel exports has further strained international market supplies. This situation is intensified by disruptions in oil transport through the Strait of Hormuz, linked to ongoing conflicts involving Iran. As reported by the International Energy Agency, diesel and gasoil exports from Gulf countries in August plummeted to just above a quarter of their pre-conflict levels.
Ukraine maintains that Russia’s energy sector plays a significant role in funding its military activities in Ukraine, justifying their continued assaults on Russian oil installations, including refineries and storage facilities. In retaliation, Russia has escalated its attacks on Ukrainian urban centers and infrastructure, with recent overnight strikes hitting Odesa and other regions. Ukrainian officials reported both casualties and damage to civilian and energy infrastructure as a result of these actions.
The situation has also seen an exchange of large-scale drone attacks between the two nations over the weekend. Russian authorities reported Ukrainian strikes on industrial targets, while Kyiv recorded Russian drones impacting residential and strategic infrastructure. The escalating fuel prices have emerged as a critical issue in the United States, particularly as the nation nears its November midterm elections. Trump’s appeal to Ukraine to reduce its assaults on Russian energy infrastructure highlights the growing anxiety over the war’s influence on the availability of global fuel supplies.