Key facts
- US President Donald Trump stated Russia has lost control of its diesel production sector due to the war with Ukraine.
- Trump claimed numerous Russian refineries are temporarily out of commission.
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and US President Donald Trump are expected to meet in New York.
- The leaders are set to discuss a potential mutual pause in strikes against energy infrastructure.
- Kyiv has signaled readiness for an energy truce, provided Russia abides by it.
US President Donald Trump stated on September 21, 2026, that Russia has effectively lost control of its diesel production sector due to the war with Ukraine, urging an end to the fighting. Trump made the comments on his Truth Social platform, noting that a large number of Russian refineries have been blown up and are temporarily out of commission, which he said causes the "whole world" to suffer. The remarks come ahead of an expected meeting between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in New York this week. The two leaders are set to discuss a potential mutual pause in strikes against energy infrastructure and targets on the Black Sea. Kyiv has been consistently targeting Russian oil depots and refineries to increase pressure on Moscow's economy, while Russian forces have been targeting Ukraine's energy grid. Experts, however, disputed Trump's claim that Ukrainian strikes against Russian refineries were the main driver of rising diesel fuel costs, attributing it instead to the US-Iran war. Kyiv has signaled readiness for an energy truce, provided Russia abides by it, while the Kremlin called Trump's proposal a "very good idea" but tied it to additional conditions, including the lifting of sanctions against Russia. Separately, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy met with U.S. CIA chief John Ratcliffe at Shannon Airport in Ireland on Monday, according to sources familiar with the matter.