Trump blames Ukraine as diesel prices surge

US President Donald Trump has blamed Ukrainian attacks on Russian oil refineries for contributing to the global diesel shortage, urging Kyiv to stop targeting Russia’s diesel infrastructure.

Trump said the attacks were reducing Russian fuel production and contributing to higher diesel prices worldwide. The remarks came after the average US diesel price crossed $6 per gallon for the first time, according to GasBuddy.

Ukraine has carried out a series of long-range drone attacks on Russian oil facilities, saying such infrastructure is a legitimate military target and that the strikes are intended to increase the cost of Russia’s war effort.

The attacks have disrupted production at several major Russian refineries. Reuters reported that half of Russia’s six largest diesel-producing refineries significantly reduced or halted output in September, tightening fuel supplies.

Two Rosneft-owned refineries in Syzran and Saratov also stopped processing this month following Ukrainian drone attacks, according to industry sources cited by Reuters. The disruptions are expected to further complicate fuel shortages inside Russia.

Moscow has responded by restricting fuel exports to protect domestic supplies. The Russian government is also set to extend restrictions on diesel exports by fuel producers until the end of October, according to Reuters.

The Kremlin welcomed Trump’s call for Ukraine to halt attacks on Russian diesel facilities. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Moscow supported calls to stop attacks on economic infrastructure, while attributing wider energy-market instability largely to tensions in the Persian Gulf.

Meanwhile, global diesel markets remain under pressure from disruptions in both Eastern Europe and the Middle East. European diesel prices recently approached record levels, while US prices have also climbed sharply.

-AAH