U.S. President Donald Trump on Sunday urged Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to stop targeting Russian diesel and fuel infrastructure, saying the attacks were contributing to a global fuel shortage.
Speaking to journalists during a visit to the Irish Open in western Ireland, Trump said Ukraine should focus on other targets instead of Russian diesel facilities, which he said were “hurting the world.”
Ukraine has carried out a series of long-range drone strikes on Russian oil refineries and other energy facilities in recent months, disrupting fuel production and contributing to gasoline shortages across Russia.
Kyiv has defended the attacks, arguing that Russian refineries and fuel infrastructure are legitimate military targets because they support Moscow’s war effort.
Trump said he had discussed the issue with Zelenskiy and urged Ukraine to avoid further attacks on Russian diesel production, amid concerns over tight fuel supplies and rising prices.
His comments come as fuel markets face increased pressure, with the U.S. national average price of diesel rising above $6 a gallon for the first time on Thursday, according to GasBuddy.
Diesel is widely used to power trucks, trains, ships and agricultural equipment, making disruptions to supplies a concern for transportation, farming and wider economic activity.
Trump said the current global fuel shortage was not solely linked to the conflict in the Middle East, arguing that disruptions caused by the Russia-Ukraine war were also affecting global energy markets.
Russia has already lowered its forecast for oil production this year to its lowest level in 17 years and revised its outlook for fuel exports in 2026 and 2027 because of the impact of the war.
The developments highlight growing concerns that continued attacks on Russian energy infrastructure could further tighten fuel supplies, putting additional pressure on global prices and adding to inflation risks.