Trump calls on Zelensky to halt strikes on Russian oil refineries

US President Donald Trump has publicly urged Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to stop Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian oil refineries. Speaking to reporters at a golf tournament in Ireland, Trump said these attacks — not the US conflict with Iran or the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz — are responsible for the diesel shortage and rising fuel prices worldwide. He said he had already discussed the issue with Zelensky, adding that Ukraine could continue striking other targets but not fuel infrastructure.

Notably, Europe and the US receive almost no diesel directly from Russia, yet US diesel prices hit a new record on Thursday, topping six dollars per gallon for the first time.

Mutual strikes continue

For months, Ukraine has been using long-range drones to repeatedly hit Russian oil refineries, which it considers legitimate military targets since they fund the war and supply fuel to Russian forces. These strikes have pushed Russia to cut its annual oil output forecast to its lowest level in 17 years. On Sunday, Ukrainian drones struck facilities in Nizhnekamsk, Tatarstan, killing two people, and hit a refinery in Slavyansk-on-Kuban in Russia's Krasnodar region, sparking a large fire and injuring three people. Russia said it shot down 389 Ukrainian drones overnight.

Meanwhile, Russia has intensified missile and drone attacks on Ukraine's power grid in recent weeks ahead of winter, which Kyiv sees as an attempt to demoralize the population. On Sunday, Russian drones struck Odesa and an area near the Polish border.

Talks may resume

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia, Ukraine and US peace talks could resume in the autumn. Last week, US envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff met with Putin in Moscow and later with Zelensky in Kyiv, though the two sides remain far apart on the issue of territory.