Ukraine has intensified attacks on Russian oil refineries in recent months. Donald Trump has said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy must stop “knocking out diesel fuel in Russia,” as Kyiv continues a campaign of long-range drone strikes against Russian oil and energy infrastructure. “He [Zelenskyy] has to do one thing. He has to stop knocking out diesel fuel in Russia,” Trump told reporters in Ireland on Sunday. "We spoke to Mr. Zelenskyy about it. There are plenty of other targets. Don't hit diesel fuel," he added. Russia’s fuel crisis Ukraine has intensified attacks on oil refineries, fuel depots and other energy facilities deep inside Russia in recent months, disrupting production and supplies. Kyiv says the campaign is intended to weaken Moscow’s war effort, which relies heavily on energy revenues. The strikes have forced several Russian refineries offline temporarily and reduced fuel production, contributing to domestic diesel shortages in the world’s second-largest diesel exporter. Moscow has extended a ban on diesel exports until September 30 in an effort to stabilize the domestic market. Trump’s comments came a week after his envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner visited Moscow and Kyiv as part of Washington’s renewed effort to end the war, now into its fifth year. The pair met Russian President Vladimir Putin before traveling to Kyiv for talks with Zelenskyy, in what was their first visit to Ukraine since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in 2022. ‘Two people who hate each other’ Trump said on Wednesday that he had a “great” conversation with Putin earlier in the week and claimed the Russian leader wanted to reach an agreement to end Europe's bloodiest conflict since World War II. “He is wanting to make a deal, and if Zelenskyy is wanting to make a deal, that’d be very nice,” Trump told reporters. “The holdup is two people who hate each other,” the US president said, referring to Putin and Zelenskyy. Poland's Foreign Minister, Radosław Sikorski, said on Wednesday that he was not optimistic about the prospects for peace, adding that Moscow continues to reject ceasefire proposals and has not softened its war objectives.
