Trump Urges Zelenskyy to Halt Attacks on Russian Diesel Facilities

U.S. Diesel Prices Surpass $6 Per Gallon for First Time
Rising Living Costs Ahead of Midterm Elections

As diesel prices in the United States have soared to record highs, U.S. President Donald Trump has called on Ukraine to stop attacking Russian oil refining facilities. His remarks come as the surge in diesel prices is driving up transportation and living costs, emerging as a major factor for the upcoming midterm elections in November.

U.S. President Donald Trump. White House

During his visit to Ireland on the 13th (local time), President Trump told reporters, "We spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy about this issue," adding, "I told him there are plenty of other possible targets, so facilities related to diesel fuel should not be targeted."

He reiterated his call for Ukraine to stop its attacks on diesel-related infrastructure, stressing that Ukraine's assaults are exacerbating the global diesel shortage by destroying Russian diesel facilities.

Recently, Ukraine has ramped up drone attacks against Russian oil refineries and petroleum export infrastructure in a bid to cut off funding for Russia’s war effort. As a result, Russia’s refining capacity has been significantly reduced and diesel exports have declined, further deepening the global supply shortage.

Coupled with supply disruptions caused by the Middle East war, the average diesel price in the U.S. has recently surpassed $6 per gallon for the first time in history. Because diesel is widely used in freight trucks, agricultural machinery, and construction equipment, rising prices can spread to transportation costs and overall consumer price indices, including food prices. Analysts warn that, ahead of the midterm elections, this could be a major blow to President Trump by worsening voters’ perceptions of the economy.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.