US President Donald Trump has once again linked the sharp rise in the price of diesel fuel to Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil refineries. According to him, diesel production facilities in Russia are losing capacity «at an alarming rate». At the same time, Reuters data suggests that the current market situation has several causes, including the war in the Middle East, strikes on Russian oil refineries, a reduction in exports from China and low global fuel stocks.
- Trump stated that the diesel situation is more closely linked to events in Russia than to the Middle East.
- He highlighted the Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil refineries and the resulting loss of production capacity.
- This is not the first time the US President has made a statement of this kind regarding Ukrainian attacks on Russian oil refineries.
- In the US, diesel prices recently reached a record high of $6.53 per gallon.
- Washington is considering restrictions on diesel exports as one way of bringing down domestic prices.
Trump has once again spoken of strikes on Russian oil refineries
Whilst speaking to journalists at the White House on 30 September Trump stated that, in his view, the problems with diesel fuel are much more closely linked to developments surrounding Russia than to the situation in the Middle East.
The US President said that Russian oil refineries producing diesel are being taken out of action at a rapid pace, and that he considers this to be one of the main causes of the fuel shortage. Trump cited Russia’s war against Ukraine and the attacks on energy infrastructure as the main factors behind the current price increase diesel.
«If that hadn’t happened, we wouldn’t have had any problems with diesel fuel,» said Trump.
This is not the first time Trump has levelled accusations against Ukraine
By mid-September, Trump had already publicly called on the President Vladimir Zelensky to cease strikes against Russian infrastructure linked to diesel production.
At the time, he said that Ukraine could attack other targets, but strikes on oil refineries, he claimed, would cause fuel shortages and affect the global market. Ukraine, for its part, emphasises that Russian oil refineries are legitimate military targets, as they supply the Russian military machine with fuel and revenue.
Diesel sets a record in the US
The issue has become particularly sensitive for the Trump administration due to the sharp rise in prices in the US.
According to the AAA, by the end of September the average price of diesel fuel in the country had reached a record high $6.53 per gallon. High prices have a direct impact on freight transport, agriculture and the cost of delivering goods.
The White House is already considering a range of measures — from expanding the use of diesel that is partially tax-exempt to voluntary export restrictions by US oil refining companies.
Trump himself confirmed that the issue The possibility of a ban on diesel exports from the US is being discussed almost every day. He did, however, acknowledge that such a move could have negative consequences for petrol prices.
It is not just Russia that is to blame
At the same time, Trump’s assessment is not the only explanation for the situation in the market.
The current deficit has arisen due to a combination of several factors: a reduction in supplies as a result of the war with Iran, disruptions to the operation of oil refineries, and Ukrainian attacks on Russian oil refineries and a decline in global diesel fuel stocks.
US Secretary of Energy Chris Wright He also stated that the global market had lost some of its diesel supplies from the Middle East and China.
Thus, Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil refineries have indeed become one of the factors putting pressure on global supply; however, the rise in prices is not solely attributable to them.
Russia has extended its ban on diesel exports
Decisions taken by Russia itself are also putting additional pressure on the market.
On 30 September, Moscow extended the restrictions on diesel fuel exports until the end of October. The Russian authorities are seeking in this way to stabilise the domestic market following a reduction in refining capacity and disruptions to fuel supplies.
Before the full-scale wave of Ukrainian attacks, Russia was one of the largest suppliers of diesel to the global market.
Now, the combination of damage to oil refineries, domestic export restrictions and problems in other major markets has made diesel one of the most scarce types of fuel in 2026.
