Key facts
- U.S. President Donald Trump stated Russia has lost control of its diesel oil industry due to the war in Ukraine.
- Trump cited Ukrainian attacks disabling nearly half of Russia's refining capacity.
- Trump called for an end to the conflict, noting global suffering and monthly casualties.
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukraine would de-escalate attacks if Russia did the same.
- Zelenskyy emphasized that Ukraine's energy sector, critical infrastructure, and food exports must not be targets.
- Trump and Zelenskyy are scheduled to meet in New York on Tuesday.
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Truth Social that Russia has lost control of its diesel oil industry due to the war in Ukraine, attributing this to intensified Ukrainian attacks on Russian energy infrastructure. Trump called for an end to the conflict, describing it as "ridiculous and never-ending" and noting the global suffering it causes.
Trump stated that a "large number" of Russia's diesel refineries have been destroyed and are temporarily out of commission, disabling nearly half of the country's refining capacity. He estimated that "25,000 people, mostly soldiers, are being killed each month" due to the war.
Responding to Trump's remarks, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on X that Ukraine was ready to halt its attacks on Russian energy infrastructure if the Kremlin reciprocated. Zelenskyy stressed that Ukraine's energy sector, critical infrastructure, and food exports must cease being targets for Russia, which would lead to matching de-escalation steps from Ukraine. He added that "the aggressor will suffer as well."
Earlier in September, Trump had urged Ukraine to stop targeting Russia's energy infrastructure, arguing that such attacks were causing global fuel shortages. Trump and Zelenskyy are scheduled to meet in New York on Tuesday, with Zelenskyy suggesting the meeting "could change a lot" and noting "diplomatic momentum" in current talks.