US President Donald Trump has called on Ukraine to stop attacking diesel refineries as part of its military’s counteroffensive operations against Russia, accusing the attacks of contributing to diesel shortages around the world.
“Zelenskyy has to do one thing. He has to stop knocking out diesel fuel in Russia," Trump told reporters. "Let him go after targets, but not diesel, because he's causing a shortage of diesel."
Trump was speaking in Ireland where he’s on a 48-hour trip primarily to attend the Irish Open Golf Tournament held at his private golf links hotel in Doonbeg, County Clare.
He appeared to blame Ukraine’s war efforts in targeting Russia as the main reason for spiralling energy prices, despite experts pointing to his and Israel's war on Iran and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, from which 20% of the world's oil typically flows, as the main culprit.
Trump said Ukraine has "plenty of other targets" to strike, noting that Kyiv’s strategy in going after Moscow’s oil and gas reserves in response to Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022 is "hurting the world."
