Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has responded to U.S. President Donald Trump’s latest comments about disruptions to Russia’s diesel industry, saying continued pressure on Moscow remains part of Ukraine’s strategy while diplomacy should proceed at the same time.
Trump said in a social media post on Monday that Russia had “lost control” of its diesel industry because of the war with Ukraine. He blamed attacks on Russian refineries for disrupting fuel production and called for the conflict to end.
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The comments came after Ukrainian attacks on Russian energy infrastructure intensified. Reuters reported last week that several major Russian diesel-producing refineries had significantly reduced production or halted operations following drone attacks.
Trump has previously urged Zelenskyy to stop targeting Russian diesel facilities, arguing that the disruption is contributing to tighter global fuel supplies and higher diesel prices. The U.S. president made a similar appeal on September 13, saying attacks on diesel infrastructure were “hurting the world.”
Zelenskyy has maintained that Ukraine is prepared to stop attacks on critical infrastructure if Russia makes a reciprocal commitment. He said Ukraine had offered its partners a framework under which Moscow would also halt attacks on Ukraine’s energy facilities and other critical infrastructure.
Following a phone conversation with Trump, Zelenskyy said the discussion was important and confirmed that the two leaders planned to meet in New York during the United Nations General Assembly. He said there was diplomatic momentum and that the meeting could be significant for efforts to address the war.
Zelenskyy has also argued that Ukraine’s strikes on Russian energy infrastructure are intended to put pressure on Moscow, particularly as Russia continues attacks on Ukrainian targets. He said diplomacy and military pressure should operate in parallel.
The dispute over energy infrastructure comes as diesel markets face wider supply pressures. Reuters reported that the U.S. national average price for diesel recently moved above $6 per gallon, while Russia has faced fuel-production disruptions linked to attacks on its refining network.
The issue is expected to feature in discussions between Trump and Zelenskyy as they meet in New York. Any agreement to halt attacks on energy infrastructure would depend on commitments from both Russia and Ukraine and on mechanisms for monitoring compliance.