US president Donald Trump has again pressed Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy to halt strikes on Russian oil refineries, linking the attacks to a tightening global diesel market and rising fuel prices. He also renewed his call for an end to what he described as a “ridiculous and never-ending” war.In a post on Truth Social, Trump said on Monday that Russia had “lost control” of its diesel industry as a result of the war, claiming that several refineries had been damaged.have been blown up and are, at least temporarily, out of commission.“Russia has unfortunately lost control of its Diesel Oil Industry due to its War with Ukraine. A large number of their Diesel refineries have been blown up and are, at least temporarily, out of commission,” Trump said in the post.
Trump’s post on Truth Social
He added, “This ridiculous and never ending War with Ukraine must be ended. The whole World suffers as 25,000 people, mostly soldiers, are being killed each month. What a shame! President DJT”The remarks came a day before Trump was due to meet Zelenskyy on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. Zelenskyy said after Sunday’s call that it had been an “important conversation” and that his meeting with Trump “could change a lot”. His office said the two leaders were expected to meet on Tuesday.According to the Financial Times, Trump’s central message during the call was “diesel, diesel . . . diesel”. A senior Ukrainian official who participated in the conversation told the newspaper that Trump urged Zelenskyy to order his military to stop drone and missile attacks on Russian refineries.Another senior Ukrainian official familiar with the call told the FT that Trump was “very worried” about rising diesel prices and wanted Russian supplies to reach global markets.Trump had made a similar appeal publicly on September 13, saying, “Mr. Zelenskiy has to do one thing: He has to stop knocking out diesel fuel in Russia.” He added: “There are plenty of other targets. Don’t hit diesel fuel. That’s hurting the world.”The Kremlin welcomed Trump’s appeal. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Moscow could only welcome any call for Kyiv to stop attacks on civilian economic infrastructure. He also said Russia’s view was that the disruption in global energy markets was being driven largely by instability and renewed escalation in the Gulf region.Ukraine has defended attacks on Russian refineries as legitimate military targets, while a wave of Ukrainian drone strikes has reduced Russian refining output and contributed to fuel shortages. Reuters reported last week that six major diesel-producing refineries had suffered significant production cuts or shutdowns in September.The latest call followed what Russian authorities described as the largest-ever drone attack on Moscow, during which a major oil refinery was reportedly set ablaze. The Kremlin has previously welcomed Trump’s calls for Ukraine to stop attacks on Russian diesel facilities.
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