President Trump said Sunday that sky-rocketing diesel prices are the result of Ukraine striking Russia’s refineries, and called on President Volodymyr Zelensky to halt the attacks.
“Zelensky has to do one thing — he has to stop knocking out diesel fuel in Russia,” Trump said at his golf course in Doonbeg, Ireland.
“This isn’t done by the Middle East, this is done by what’s happening with Russia and Ukraine.”
Recent AAA data shows the US national diesel average at $6.06 per gallon — the highest in history. The previous high was in June 2022 of $5.82 per gallon, a period that followed Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
As recently as March, the average price was below $4 per gallon.
While most passenger cars and trucks run on gasoline, diesel powers the economy — fueling big-rig trucks, farm equipment, trains and large ships. A spike in the cost of diesel fuel could quickly trickle down into the prices of all kinds of consumer goods.
Ukraine has been targeting Russian oil and gas industry refineries over the past few months in attempt to cripple the Kremlin’s biggest source of revenue.
Those attacks have forced Moscow to ban diesel exports.
Iran and its allies have also hit refineries in the Gulf, forcing a drop in production.
The result has been a drop of 8% in diesel supply across the world, CNBC reported — and US refineries are already running at 98% capacity.
Trump said that he’s talked to the Ukrainian president, and that there’s “plenty of other targets,” emphasizing that the US does not want Kyiv targeting diesel fuel facilities.
“Don’t hit diesel fuel, because that’s hurting the world,” Trump added.
Kyiv says the long-range strikes against Russia’s oil and gas funds and directly fuels Moscow’s invasion of its neighbor.
