Trump presses Zelenskyy to stop hitting Russian refineries as diesel fears drive Sunday call

From the Newshound archive · first published 21 September 2026.

President Donald Trump called Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Sunday to demand a halt to Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian oil refineries, warning that the attacks are worsening a global diesel shortage and driving up prices. A senior Ukrainian official on the call said Trump's message was overwhelmingly about "diesel, diesel... diesel." The call took place hours after Ukraine carried out what Russia described as the largest-ever drone attack on Moscow, sparking a major oil refinery fire that left at least two people dead.

Zelenskyy called the conversation "important" and said Tuesday's UN General Assembly meeting with Trump "could change a lot."