'Russia has lost control': Trump flags diesel crisis, calls for end to 'ridiculous' Ukraine war

US President Donald Trump on Monday said Russia had “lost control” of its diesel industry following repeated Ukrainian strikes on its oil refineries, as he renewed his call for an end to what he described as the “ridiculous” war in Ukraine.

Trump’s remarks came amid a global diesel shortage that has pushed fuel prices higher and prompted Washington to press Kyiv to halt attacks on Russian refining infrastructure. Ukrainian drone strikes have repeatedly targeted Russian refineries, disrupting production and contributing to Moscow’s restrictions on fuel exports.

‘Refineries blown up’

In a post on Truth Social, Trump said a “large number” of Russia’s diesel refineries had been hit and were temporarily out of operation.

“Russia has lost control of its Diesel Industry,” Trump said, arguing that Moscow was facing a shortage of the fuel after attacks on its refining facilities.

He again called for an end to the Russia-Ukraine war, which began with Moscow’s full-scale invasion in February 2022.

Trump’s intervention came as both Russia and Ukraine continued long-range attacks despite US efforts to secure an agreement aimed at protecting energy infrastructure.

Russia has periodically restricted diesel exports as it seeks to stabilise domestic supplies and prices following damage to its refining network. In August, however, Russian diesel shipments to Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia and Tajikistan more than doubled from July as production recovered somewhat.

Global diesel crunch

The disruption to Russian refining has come at a time when diesel supplies are already tight globally.

The wars in Ukraine and Iran have disrupted supplies from Russia and the Middle East, helping drive inventories to historically low levels. US retail diesel prices crossed $6 a gallon this month for the first time, while analysts have warned that the global shortage could persist into 2027.

Trump has consequently pushed for a halt to attacks on energy facilities. He said last week that Russia and Ukraine had agreed not to target each other’s energy infrastructure, although Zelenskyy subsequently sought further clarity on the arrangement.

Trump-Zelenskyy talks

The remarks also came ahead of a meeting between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in New York on Tuesday on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly.

Zelenskyy said there were proposals under discussion that could bring peace closer, including initial de-escalation measures. He called for an end to Russian attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure and food exports, saying Kyiv could take corresponding steps if Moscow did the same.

Trump had raised the issue of Ukrainian strikes on Russian refineries during a call with Zelenskyy on Sunday, according to a source familiar with the conversation, although the source said the US President had discussed rather than demanded a halt to the attacks.

Washington’s latest push comes as efforts to broker a broader settlement have struggled to produce a ceasefire, with Moscow and Kyiv remaining divided over territory, security guarantees and the terms of any eventual peace agreement.