Russia ‘Unfortunately Lost Control’ of Its Diesel Refineries, Trump Says

US President Donald Trump has stated that Russia has "unfortunately lost control" of its diesel refineries due to the ongoing war in Ukraine, according to a post on his Truth Social platform. The conflict, which Trump called "ridiculous" and "never ending," has resulted in the killing of 25,000 people each month, mostly soldiers, according to the president.

Trump's comments followed a phone call with Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky, and a day before the two were set to meet at the UN General Assembly in New York. The US president had previously blamed Ukraine for rising global diesel prices, which has impacts on Republican prospects in the US's mid-term elections. While Ukraine's actions have had some effect on global diesel prices, other factors, such as the US war in Iran, have had a larger impact, according to a report from the Financial Times.

Despite the strain on Russia's oil exports, Russia has reportedly raised diesel exports to Central Asia. Zelensky hailed the diplomatic momentum following the call, but confirmed that he would meet Trump on Tuesday. The Ukrainian president hinted at steps towards de-escalation and mentioned the newly signed US sanctions bill against Russian energy.