Trump said he asked Zelensky not to attack Russian refineries

US President Donald Trump for the second time in one day urged Ukraine not to attack Russian oil refineries. He stated that he personally asked President Volodymyr Zelensky not to strike refineries, linking them to problems with diesel fuel supplies from Russia.

Trump said this while talking to journalists aboard Air Force One on the way from Ireland to the USA. When asked which of the current wars, in his opinion, could end sooner, the US president again returned to the topic of Russian diesel.

"The problem I have with Ukraine and Russia is that a lot of diesel fuel comes from Russia, and Russian plants are being hit by Ukraine. I asked President Zelensky not to hit diesel plants, refineries", - Trump said.

According to him, difficulties with fuel supplies from Russia contribute to rising diesel prices and "harm the world". At the same time, Trump did not answer directly which war, in his opinion, could end sooner.

This was already the second similar statement by the American president on September 13. Earlier that day during the Irish Open in Dunbeg, Trump stated that Zelensky should stop strikes on facilities related to diesel fuel production in Russia. He noted that Ukraine can attack other targets, and said he had already discussed this issue with Zelensky.

At that time, Trump also claimed that the current diesel fuel shortage is caused primarily by events in the Russian-Ukrainian war, not by the conflict in the Middle East.

Meanwhile, Associated Press notes that the situation on the global fuel market has been worsened by several factors at once. The war with Iran sharply reduced oil supplies through the Strait of Hormuz, and Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil refining further limited diesel supply.

According to the International Energy Agency, cited by AP, net exports of diesel and gasoil from the Persian Gulf countries in August amounted to only slightly more than a quarter of the pre-war level. Meanwhile, Ukraine's strikes on Russian refineries led to disruptions in the operation of Russia's refining industry. Russia imposed a ban on diesel fuel exports in July.

Ukraine explains the strikes on Russian oil and gas infrastructure by the fact that this sector provides Russia with revenues to finance the war and directly supplies fuel to its troops.

Based on materials: White House Press Pool - statement aboard Air Force One, White House Press Pool - previous statement in Ireland, Associated Press