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Trump calls on Ukraine to halt attacks on Russian oil refineries
politico.eu • • nation
Key Points:
- U.S. President Donald Trump urged Ukraine to cease targeting Russian oil refineries, blaming Ukrainian attacks for the global diesel fuel price surge, rather than conflicts involving the Middle East.
- Trump stated that his administration had asked Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to avoid striking Russian diesel production sites, emphasizing that such attacks are causing worldwide diesel shortages.
- Ukrainian strikes on Russian energy infrastructure are part of Kyiv’s strategy to make Russia’s invasion costly, but some U.S. and European officials view Trump’s comments as an attempt to shift blame ahead of U.S. midterm elections.
- U.S. officials, including Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, have also linked rising diesel prices to damage at Russian refineries caused by Ukrainian attacks.
- A senior European official argued that any energy ceasefire should be mutual, noting Russia continues attacks on Ukraine’s energy grid and that Moscow refuses to halt military operations during negotiations.
