Trump urges Ukraine to stop striking Russian oil refineries

US President Donald Trump, during a two-day visit to Ireland, urged Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to stop targeting Russian facilities that produce diesel fuel. Speaking to reporters on Saturday while touring his golf course in Doonbeg, Trump said Zelenskyy should direct strikes at other targets instead, arguing that hitting diesel infrastructure was fueling a global shortage.

The comments followed Friday's record diesel price of $6 per gallon in the US. Trump denied that the surge was linked to the war his administration launched against Iran more than six months ago, which has sharply curtailed oil shipments from the Middle East. Instead, he insisted the shortage stemmed from the dynamics of the Russia-Ukraine war.

Ukraine's strategy and European pushback

Ukraine has increasingly carried out deep-range strikes on Russian energy infrastructure, viewing the tactic as a way to raise the cost of Moscow's nearly four-year full-scale invasion. A senior European official familiar with US-brokered mediation talks between Moscow and Kyiv told POLITICO that the Trump administration was looking for scapegoats ahead of critical US midterm elections in November. The official said Russian oil and diesel exports have never been significant for US consumption, calling the argument absurd, and noted that Trump himself has repeatedly claimed America can supply as much oil as needed.

Other members of the Trump administration have previously pointed to Ukraine as well — Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent have both publicly cited Ukrainian strikes as contributing to the diesel crisis.

The European official added that any energy-related ceasefire would need to be mutual, requiring Russia to also stop striking Ukraine's power grid. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Saturday that Moscow would not pause its military operation during talks with Kyiv.