Trump to confront Zelenskyy over Ukraine strikes on Russian oil refineries
Donald Trump is expected to confront Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in New York today over strikes on Russian oil refineries.
The United States President put pressure on Zelenskyy during a phone call before their meeting on the sidelines of the United Nations general assembly.
He told the Ukrainian leader the attacks were exacerbating a global diesel shortage and causing petrol prices to surge.
However, limiting Ukraine’s long-range strikes would deny Zelenskyy one of his most powerful weapons and negotiating tools, and would probably concern Kyiv’s closest allies.
In a call with Zelenskyy on Sunday, according to the Financial Times, Trump pressured him to halt Kyiv’s attacks on Russian refineries used to power its war machine.
Ukrainian officials said Trump, concerned about the surging price of diesel, urged Zelenskyy to halt drone and missile strikes so Russian fuel could reach the global market.
A source said Trump stopped short of demanding an end to strikes on Russian refineries, adding: “It was part of the discussion on de-escalation measures”.
Trump, whose approval rating in the US is close to a record low, faces widespread discontent amid affordability concerns. Most analysts believe he is likely to lose control of both the House of Representatives and the Senate in November’s Midterms.
Zelenskyy said afterwards that he had an “important conversation” and his meeting with Trump could “change a lot”.
“There is diplomatic momentum,” he added.
Trump said on social media that Russia had “unfortunately lost control of its diesel oil industry to its war with Ukraine”.
The US President, who had previously claimed he would end the conflict on his first day in office, continued: “A large number of their diesel refineries have been blown up and are, at least temporarily, out of commission. This ridiculous and never-ending war with Ukraine must be ended.”
Some Republicans have suggested a ban on US diesel exports, because American farmers are being hit by rising fuel prices as the autumn harvest season begins.
Responding to the US President’s statements about diesel, Zelenskyy hinted he would stop strikes on Russian refineries if Moscow reined in its strikes against Ukraine.
“Ukraine’s energy sector, critical infrastructure, and our food exports must stop being targets for Russia, and this will lead to matching de-escalation steps. Solutions are possible.
“We are ready to work on this, and we will discuss it with our partners on the sidelines of the UN general assembly in New York.”
Trump claimed on September 14 that Ukraine and Russia had agreed to end strikes on each other’s energy facilities. Ukrainian officials subsequently said no ceasefire had been agreed, but Zelenskyy said he would honour one if Russia agreed to do so.
However, Russian President Vladimir Putin is expected to bombard Ukraine’s energy infrastructure in the coming months, leaving its civilian population without heating and power during the freezing winter.
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