Former President Donald Trump on Sunday directly blamed Ukrainian attacks on Russian refineries for the current spike in U.S. diesel fuel prices, calling it the "result of what's happening with Russia and Ukraine." He urged Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to halt these strikes.
"Zelenskyy has to do one thing — he has to stop knocking out diesel fuel in Russia," Trump stated at his golf course in Doonbeg, Ireland. "This isn’t done by the Middle East, this is done by what's happening with Russia and Ukraine."
The national average diesel price has reached a historic high of $6.06 per gallon, according to recent AAA data, surpassing the previous record of $5.82 set in June 2022. As recently as March, the average price was below $4 per gallon.
Diesel fuel is critical to the U.S. economy, powering long-haul trucks, agricultural machinery, trains, and large ships. Consequently, a rise in diesel costs can lead to increased prices for a wide range of consumer goods.
Ukraine has engaged in a campaign targeting Russian oil and gas industry refineries in recent months, aiming to disrupt one of Moscow's key revenue streams. These actions have prompted Russia to ban diesel exports. Concurrently, Iran and its allies have also reportedly targeted refineries in the Gulf, contributing to a reduction in global production.
These combined factors have resulted in an estimated 8% decrease in global diesel supply, with U.S. refineries already operating at near-full capacity, at 98%.
Trump indicated he had spoken with President Zelenskyy, suggesting that "plenty of other targets" exist and that the U.S. does not want Kyiv to target diesel facilities. "Don't hit diesel fuel, because that's hurting the world," Trump added.
Kyiv maintains that its long-range strikes against Russia's oil and gas infrastructure directly support Moscow's invasion efforts.
