Trump urges Zelensky to halt strikes on Russian fuel, cites global diesel shortage

US President Donald Trump on Sunday called on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to halt Ukraine’s drone strikes on Russian oil refineries, claiming they are causing a global diesel shortage.

Trump made the statement while attending the Irish Open golf tournament at his Doonbeg resort in Ireland. When asked whether he had spoken to Zelensky following his recent conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Trump pivoted to urging Ukraine to cease the fuel attacks.

Trump’s direct message

"Mr. Zelensky has to do one thing. He has to stop destroying [Russian diesel]," Trump reportedly said, claiming the strikes were creating a worldwide shortage of diesel fuel. Ukraine’s campaign to disable Russian oil infrastructure has been one of the more successful asymmetric tactics in the war, disrupting Russian refinery output significantly.

The statement comes amid ongoing US-mediated trilateral negotiations between Russia and Ukraine and signals potential US pressure on Kyiv to limit certain types of strikes. Ukraine has not publicly responded to Trump’s demand.