Trump asks Ukraine to stop hitting Russia's fuel, points to 'other targets'

Trump's remarks come as Ukraine has stepped up long-range strikes on Russia's oil and gas infrastructure, arguing that the industry helps finance and directly support Moscow's war effort. The drone campaign has disrupted fuel supplies in parts of Russia, leading to rationing despite the country being one of the world's biggest oil and gas exporters.US President Donald Trump has urged Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to stop targeting Russian diesel infra. (File Photo: Reuters)US President Donald Trump has urged Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to stop targeting Russian diesel infrastructure, saying the strikes are contributing to a fuel shortage in Russia.Trump made the remarks on Sunday when asked whether he had spoken to Zelenskyy following his recent conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin.“Mr Zelensky has to do one thing. He has to stop knocking out diesel fuel in Russia,” Trump told reporters on the sidelines of the Irish Open at his Doonbeg club. “Let him go after targets but not diesel fuel, because he’s causing a shortage of diesel fuel,” he said."This isn't done by the Middle East...this is done by what's happening with Russia and Ukraine. We spoke to Mr. Zelenskyy about it...there are plenty of other targets. Don't hit diesel fuel, because that's hurting the world. We don't want him to hit diesel fuel," he went on to add. UKRAINE TARGETS RUSSIAN OIL INDUSTRYTrump made these remarks as Ukraine has stepped up long-range strikes on Russia’s oil and gas infrastructure, arguing that the industry helps finance and directly support Moscow’s war effort.The drone campaign has disrupted fuel supplies in parts of Russia, leading to rationing despite the country being one of the world’s biggest oil and gas exporters. On Sunday, Ukraine said it had struck a major oil refinery in Sloviansk-on-Kuban in Russia’s Krasnodar region, across from Crimea.Ukraine’s Defence Intelligence Directorate (DIU) said drones hit a key oil processing unit and the refinery’s tank farm overnight, triggering a large fire that could be seen from several dozen kilometres away.Krasnodar authorities said a strike on an “enterprise” in Sloviansk-on-Kuban injured three people, damaged an oil pipeline and started a fire. They did not directly address Ukraine’s claim that the refinery had been targeted.Russia’s Defence Ministry said its forces shot down 389 Ukrainian drones overnight, including over Tatarstan, other Russian regions and Russian-occupied Crimea.RUSSIAN STRIKES HIT ODESAMeanwhile, Russia continued its attacks on Ukrainian cities, with at least nine people injured in a “massive” overnight strike on Odesa, according to Serhii Lysak, head of the city’s military administration.Odesa, Ukraine’s main Black Sea port hub, has faced sustained drone and missile attacks, with Kyiv accusing Moscow of trying to disrupt the country’s exports.A Russian drone strike on Saturday hit a residential high-rise in Odesa, killing two people and injuring 26 others. Regional governor Oleh Kiper said the upper floors of the building were completely destroyed.DRONE STRIKE NEAR POLISH BORDERRussian forces also launched strikes across western Ukraine, although there were no immediate reports of casualties. One drone struck near the Yahodyn-Dorohusk border crossing with Poland and set fire to a petrol station, according to Ukrainian officials.“This is Putin’s terror knocking directly on the doors of the EU and NATO. Russian barbarians are at your gate, dear partners,” Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said in a post on X.The Polish border crossings serve as a major route for military and humanitarian aid supplied to Ukraine by Western countries.Ukraine’s state rail operator said a Russian drone struck the locomotive of a passenger train in the Volyn region, about 2 km from the Polish border, raising concerns among the European Union nations.- EndsWith agency inputsPublished By: Priyanka KumariPublished On: Sep 13, 2026 20:01 IST