Published September 14th, 2026 - 08:14 GMT
ALBAWABA - U.S. President Donald Trump has called on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, whose country has been invaded by Russia since 2022, to stop striking Russian fuel facilities and depots – specifically diesel fuel infrastructure.Trump claimed Zelenskyy’s attacks were contributing to a global diesel shortage, at the same time as he’s waging a war on Iran that has caused fuel and oil shortages worldwide.Global markets are facing more and more pressure with Iran blocking Hormuz and the Houthis effectively threatening Saudi shipping in Bab Al-Mandeb, these pressures are compounded with the shutdown of the Saudi East-West oil pipeline due to a drone attack.All this pressure on oil and fuel supply lines was caused by Trump’s belligerent and reckless actions in the Middle East, now, having found his hands tied in the region – unable to make his enemies budge – he’s turning on his allies to ease disruptions and shortages."Mr. Zelensky has to do one thing. He has to stop knocking out diesel fuel in Russia," Trump said. "Let him go after targets, but not diesel fuel, because he's causing a shortage of diesel.""We spoke to Mr. Zelensky about it... This isn't done by the Middle East." he said.Trump: "Zelenskyy has to do one thing -- he has to stop knocking out diesel fuel in Russia. He's causing a shortage of diesel fuel. This isn't done by the Middle East, this is done by what's happening with Russia and Ukraine." pic.twitter.com/8JDeg5KkqF— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) September 13, 2026 Ukraine has found targeting Russian fuel infrastructure was the most effective way of bringing the invading country to its knees as it suffers with fuel lines amid shortages;While Trump’s war has hit more than 20 percent of Middle Eastern refining capacity and caused the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz where a fifth of the global supply of oil flowed.Trump's attempt at shifting the blame on Zelenskyy for record U.S. diesel prices and his desires for Zelenskyy to stop hitting Russian fuel targets has fallen on deaf ears, it seems, as Ukraine has struck oil refineries in Russia's Krasnodar Krai and the Republic of Tatarstan on Sep 13, according to Ukraine's General Staff.
