Trump Urges Zelenskyy To Halt Strikes On Russian Refineries, Citing Soaring Diesel Prices

President Donald Trump on Sunday urged Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to stop Ukraine's drone and missile strikes on Russian refineries, saying the attacks were contributing to rising global diesel prices, multiple reports said.

The Financial Times reported that Trump repeatedly raised diesel supply and price concerns during the call and pressed Zelenskyy to halt attacks on Russian energy facilities. Axios separately said the subject of refinery strikes and diesel costs was raised several times.

Why Diesel Prices Matter

Markets are already under pressure from disruptions in the Middle East, Russia and China, and U.S. diesel averages have climbed sharply. Axios noted the U.S. national diesel average topped $6 a gallon this month, a level that has alarmed policymakers and businesses dependent on fuel-intensive transport.

Ukraine's campaign against Russian refineries has further tightened supply. Russian authorities have limited diesel exports after strikes damaged refining capacity, reducing an important source of global diesel supply.

Recent Violence And Diplomacy

The call followed a large Ukrainian drone attack on Moscow that Russian officials described as the largest strike on the capital to date; the Financial Times reported the assault set a major refinery ablaze and killed at least two people. Trump has said Ukraine and Russia agreed to refrain from attacking each other�s energy facilities, and Zelenskyy said Ukraine would pause such strikes reciprocally if Russia did the same and the arrangement could be guaranteed by Ukraine's partners.

Zelenskyy described the conversation with Trump as "important" and said the two leaders planned to meet on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, calling the talks a source of diplomatic momentum that "could change a lot." Axios also reported the meeting comes after Trump signed new sanctions legislation targeting Russia and approved a major U.S.-Ukraine arms package.

Russia, meanwhile, has continued attacks on Ukrainian energy and other infrastructure. Previous U.S. efforts to broker pauses in strikes on energy facilities have been unsuccessful, underscoring the difficulty of securing and verifying mutual commitments in wartime.

Note: Reporting cited here is based on the Financial Times and Axios, which cited people familiar with the call and recent events.