Trump calls on Zelenskyy to halt strikes on Russian oil infrastructure
President Donald Trump on Sunday called on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to halt strikes on Russian oil refineries and other infrastructure used to produce and distribute diesel, saying the attacks are causing a global shortage, reports BritPanorama.
For months, Ukraine has targeted Russia’s oil and gas industry with long-range strikes, resulting in fuel rationing across the country and prompting Moscow to ban diesel exports in July, further removing supplies from the already tight global market.
This global fuel crunch has been exacerbated by the ongoing conflict with Iran, which has curtailed oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz. The impact on fuel prices is significant, particularly as Americans approach midterm elections.
Trump, speaking at his Doonbeg golf club, was asked if he had spoken with Zelenskyy following his recent conversation with Russia’s Vladimir Putin. He urged Zelenskyy to focus on alternative targets, stating, “Mr. Zelenskyy has to do one thing. He has to stop knocking out diesel fuel in Russia.”
According to a Friday report from the International Energy Agency (IEA), net exports of diesel and gasoil from Gulf countries in August were “just over a quarter” of levels before the onset of the Iran conflict. The IEA noted, “Disruptions to Russia’s refining system and a near-halt to product exports following intensified Ukrainian attacks have compounded these losses.”
Kyiv asserts that Russia’s oil industry fuels Moscow’s prolonged invasion of Ukraine. Recent weeks have seen Russia escalate its air campaign against Ukraine, employing ballistic missiles and drones in attacks on critical infrastructure, particularly its power grid, ahead of the winter months.
A large-scale exchange of drone strikes transpired overnight into Sunday, resulting in civilian casualties. Two civilians were killed and 14 injured near an oil and industrial hub in Russia’s Tatarstan, with Ukrainian officials reporting drone strikes near the Black Sea port of Odesa.
In Nizhnekamsk, a drone reportedly crashed into a tree near a parked car, causing the fatalities. Local authorities indicated a fire had erupted at a nearby industrial facility.
Ukraine claimed responsibility for a significant strike on an oil refinery in Slavyansk-on-Kuban, near Crimea, targeting a key oil processing unit and tank farm. In response, Russian authorities reported several injuries and damage from the strike.
Russia’s defense ministry claimed to have shot down 389 Ukrainian drones during this period. Meanwhile, in Odesa, at least nine injuries were reported in a nighttime Russian attack, highlighting the ongoing risk to civilians in areas critical to Ukraine’s economic framework.
Ukrainian officials reported a drone hit a residential high-rise in Odesa, killing two and injuring 26 people. Other attacks targeted western Ukraine, yet no casualties were reported from those incidents.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha condemned the actions, framing them as an assault on the borders of the EU and NATO, indicating the heightened tension and vulnerability in border areas crucial for military and humanitarian aid.
Despite the escalated hostilities, officials reported that key border crossings with Poland remained secure, facilitating continued support from Western allies. Ukraine’s air force noted that it managed to down or suppress 409 out of 453 Russian drones launched in the night.
