President Trump Urges Ukraine to Cease Attacks on Russian Refineries

On Sunday, President Trump called for Ukraine to stop striking Russian refineries. He expressed concerns about the resulting diesel shortage. Trump made these comments while attending the Irish Open at his golf course in Doonbeg, Ireland. When asked about a recent conversation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy following talks with Russia’s Vladimir Putin, Trump urged Zelenskyy to halt attacks on Russia’s diesel fuel supplies.

“Mr. Zelensky has to stop targeting diesel fuel in Russia,” Trump said. “He should focus on other targets, to prevent a diesel shortage.”

Ukraine’s long-range strikes have recently involved targeting Russia’s oil and gas sector. Kyiv argues these industries fund and support Russia’s military efforts against Ukraine. Trump’s appeal comes amid Russia and Ukraine exchanging overnight drone attacks. In Tatarstan, two people died amid these tensions, while Ukraine reported Russian drone strikes on the Black Sea port of Odesa and a fire near a Polish border crossing.

Russia has intensified air raids in recent weeks. Officials argue these attacks work to demoralize Ukrainians as winter approaches, hitting the nation’s power grid. Multi-story buildings and utility structures face damage from these strikes on Odesa and surrounding areas.

According to regional officials, two individuals died and 14 others were injured in Nizhnekamsk, Tatarstan, on Sunday following Ukrainian drone strikes. The drone hit a tree near their parked vehicle, resulting in casualties. Nizhnekamsk hosts large oil refineries and petrochemical plants. An official reported a fire at a “city enterprise” without further detail.

Fuel rationing emerged in Russia due to Ukraine’s drone campaign, despite Russia being a considerable oil and gas exporter. Ukraine claims it targeted a significant oil refinery in Sloviansk-on-Kuban, Krasnodar. The region lies across from Crimea. The Defense Intelligence of Ukraine stated its drones attacked an oil processing unit and tank farm, igniting a blaze seen from afar. Krasnodar authorities acknowledged a strike on “an enterprise.” They reported injuries but avoided directly addressing Ukrainian claims.

Russia’s defense ministry stated they downed 389 Ukrainian drones overnight, including those over Tatarstan and Russian-occupied Crimea. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov indicated Moscow’s openness to autumn peace talks with Ukraine and the U.S. “We are not ruling out October,” Peskov told reporters. Recently, U.S. envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff met with Putin in Moscow and afterward with Zelenskyy in Kyiv. Despite diplomacy efforts, Russia and Ukraine’s key demands remain incompatible, particularly regarding territorial issues.

Kushner, President Trump’s son-in-law, remarked on Sunday that “territory is a main issue.” He acknowledged parties remain divided on this. “Our task as mediators is to find a creative solution to meet [Ukraine’s] objectives without violating their interests,” Kushner said. “This should encourage Russia to end the conflict in a way enabling both sides to prevent future recurrences.”