Trump urges Zelensky to curb refinery strikes as diesel prices surge
President Trump asked Ukrainian President Zelensky to scale back attacks on Russian oil refineries, linking the raids to rising global diesel costs.
President Trump reiterated his request that Ukraine reduce its bombing of Russian oil refineries, citing the recent spike in diesel prices worldwide. The appeal was made during a New York meeting at the UN General Assembly, where Trump claimed Zelensky responded that Ukraine might comply. Kyiv officials clarified that any pause in attacks would require a matching Russian concession, but no formal deal exists yet.
Energy experts point to the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran as the primary driver of the diesel shortage, with Persian Gulf exports falling far more than Russian output. Ukraine has intensified its refinery campaign since 2025 to weaken Russia's wartime economy, while Russia continues large-scale assaults on Ukraine's power grid, leaving many citizens without heat during winter.
Why it matters
The dialogue reflects how the Ukraine-Russia conflict could affect global fuel markets and diplomatic negotiations.
How this story developed
- Sep 4 Russian drone strikes SBU headquarters in Kyiv, injuring five people
- Sep 21 Russian drones struck Zaporizhzhia, injuring five and causing fires, while a woman was killed in the Kharkiv region and a mother with two children died in the Kyiv region.
- Sep 21 Zelensky announced plans for a high‑profile meeting with President Trump in New York.
- Sep 21 Trump’s appeal to cease refinery attacks was made ahead of his scheduled meeting with Zelensky at the UN General Assembly.
- Sep 22 Macron scheduled private meetings with Trump at 17:35 and with Zelensky at 21:45 in New York during UN week.
- Sep 23 Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the United States will invite President Vladimir Putin to the December G20 summit in Miami, while President Volodymyr Zelensky urged Russia to accept a maritime cease-fire proposal for the Black Sea.
- Sep 23 Russia fired multiple waves of ballistic missiles at Kiev overnight, causing at least two deaths and six injuries.
- Sep 23 U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the invitation to Putin for the December G20 summit in Miami.
- Sep 24 The wave of strikes expanded beyond Kyiv to hit Odessa and the Kharkiv region, raising the death toll.
- Sep 24 The Russian attack involved 282 drones and several missiles, according to the Ukrainian air force.
- Sep 24 Zelensky offered a reciprocal pause, linking Ukraine's halt on Russian refinery strikes to Russia ending attacks on Ukrainian energy sites.
- Sep 25 Mayor Vitali Klitschko updated the death toll to seven and the injury count to 46.
- Sep 26 A bipartisan group of 14 senators sent a letter urging President Trump to withdraw Putin’s G20 invitation.
- Sep 27 A 14‑year‑old Israeli boy was killed in the Kyiv drone strike.
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