Trump Warns Zelenskyy to Halt Strikes on Russian Oil Refineries Amid Global Diesel Price Spike

US President Donald Trump called Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on September 20, expressing concerns about the impact of Ukraine's strikes on Russian oil refineries. According to Axios, Trump repeatedly asked Zelenskyy to stop targeting Russian oil infrastructure, citing the rise in global diesel prices as his reason.

The topic of Russian oil refineries was a major point of discussion during the call between the two leaders. A source familiar with the negotiations revealed that Trump emphasized the situation on the global diesel fuel market, which has seen sharp price increases and supply issues in the US and globally.

Ukrainian strikes on Russia's oil infrastructure have disrupted operations at several major facilities, including those in Kirishi, Volgograd, and Nizhny Novgorod. As a result, half of Russia's six largest diesel refineries significantly reduced output or completely shut down certain production lines in September.

The disruptions in the Russian oil industry have led to Moscow imposing restrictions on fuel exports to stabilize the domestic market. Meanwhile, the global diesel market remains tight due to a combination of factors, including disruptions in the Middle East and a reduction in refining capacity.