US President Donald Trump, in a comment to journalists, stated that Ukraine must cease strikes on Russian infrastructure, claiming that these actions lead to a global shortage of diesel fuel. According to RBC-Ukraine, the politician directly linked the attacks on Russian oil refineries with the diesel shortage on the world market and called on the Ukrainian side to change its tactics.
Ultimatum over the 'diesel shortage'
'Zelensky needs to do one thing. He needs to stop knocking out diesel fuel in Russia. It is causing a diesel shortage,' Trump said. In doing so, the American leader effectively issued a demand to the Ukrainian president to change his approach to strikes on oil refining facilities, accusing Kyiv of creating the fuel shortage on international markets.
Context: the largest wave of attacks on refineries
The statement came against the backdrop of Russian oil refineries facing the largest wave of attacks since the start of the full-scale invasion in August. Due to the systematic destruction of critical infrastructure, international analysts forecast a prolonged decline in the industry. In particular, the International Energy Agency (IEA) lowered its forecast for Russian oil refining over the next year and a half to 4 million barrels per day — 30% lower than the figures recorded before the start of the full-scale war.
Saratov refinery: one of the latest targets hit
One of the latest targets hit was the Saratov refinery — Russia's oldest plant, which drones struck on the night of September 8. The facility can process nearly 5 million tons of oil per year; as a result of the hits, a fire broke out on its territory, and local authorities confirmed damage to the facility.
Industry recovery forecasts
According to experts' estimates, Russian oil refining will lose about 30% of its pre-war volume, and the recovery of indicators will take at least a year and a half. This means that even if the attacks cease, the industry will not be able to quickly return to pre-war levels, which in turn affects the availability of fuel on external markets.
Contradictory data
The provided materials contain a discrepancy in the causal interpretation. On the one hand, Trump claims that it is the actions of the Ukrainian side that 'cause a diesel shortage,' and demands that Zelensky stop the strikes. On the other hand, documented IEA data record a 30% decline in refining as a measurable consequence of the systematic destruction of infrastructure, and the context of the attacks is linked to the course of the full-scale war. The provided sources lack an official reaction from the Ukrainian side to the ultimatum, so the claim of a 'global shortage' as the sole responsibility of Kyiv remains the position of one of the parties, not a fact confirmed by both sides.
