Trump Orders Ukraine To Stop Bombing Russian Diesel Refineries

President Donald Trump delivered a straightforward order to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as Kyiv keeps striking Russian soil: quit bombing diesel refineries. The president issued the warning Sunday while playing golf at his Doonbeg club in Ireland during the Irish Open. A reporter asked if he had spoken with Zelenskyy after talking to Russian President Vladimir Putin recently, and Trump answered immediately.

"Zelensky has to do one thing. He has to stop knocking out diesel fuel in Russia," Trump told the crowd of reporters.

He clarified that Ukraine could still hit other targets inside Russia but must avoid messing with its diesel infrastructure. "Let him go after targets, but not diesel fuel because he's causing a shortage of diesel," Trump said. "This isn't done by the Middle East. This is done by what's happening with Russia and Ukraine."

The president confirmed he had already talked directly to Zelenskyy about this specific problem. "So we spoke to Mr. Zelensky about it. There are plenty of other targets," Trump stated. "Don't hit diesel fuel because that's hurting the world. We don't want him to hit diesel fuel. He's hitting diesel refineries."

These comments arrive as Ukraine continues its campaign against Russia's oil and gas facilities with long-range strikes. Kyiv aims to cripple an industry that funds Moscow's war machine and powers its troops. The Russian invasion began more than four years ago, yet the fighting shows no signs of slowing down.

The attacks have squeezed Russia's fuel supplies hard enough to trigger rationing in some areas and led to a ban on diesel exports back in July. That disruption has rippled through global markets too, adding stress to worldwide diesel stocks while oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz drop off. Diesel prices in the United States jumped above an average of $6 per gallon on Friday, hitting a record high.

Russia has ramped up its own aerial assault on Ukraine over recent weeks, using ballistic missiles and drones frequently. Ukraine has kept targeting sites inside Russia as well. Russian and Ukrainian officials reported another wave of major drone attacks overnight into Sunday, with casualties claimed on both sides. The Associated Press contributed to this report.