Archive · 13 Sep 2026
Trump Urges Zelensky to Halt Russian Refinery Strikes Amid Shortage
Donald Trump asked Ukraine’s leader, Volodymyr Zelensky, to stop attacking Russian fuel facilities.
Trump said the attacks were helping cause a shortage of diesel in Russia.
Ukraine says it attacks Russian oil and gas sites because they help pay for and support Russia’s war.
Russia and Ukraine continued exchanging many drone attacks overnight.
Two people were killed and 14 were injured near an industrial area in Russia’s Tatarstan region.
At least nine people were injured in a Russian attack on the Ukrainian port city of Odesa.
Fires and damage were also reported near oil facilities and a border crossing with Poland.
Russia and Ukraine reported different numbers of drones they said their defenses stopped.
Russian officials said peace talks involving Russia, Ukraine, and the United States could possibly resume in October.
Donald Trump urged Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to stop attacking Russian diesel and refinery facilities, while allowing strikes on other targets.
Trump said Ukrainian attacks were contributing to a diesel shortage and fuel rationing in parts of Russia.
Ukraine says its long-range strikes target Russia’s oil and gas industry because it funds and supports Moscow’s invasion.
Overnight drone strikes killed two people and injured 14 near Nizhnekamsk in Russia, while at least nine people were injured in Odesa.
Russia said it shot down 389 Ukrainian drones, while Ukraine said it shot down or suppressed 409 of 453 Russian drones.
- Who
- US President Donald Trump, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, and the governments and armed forces of Russia and Ukraine.
- What
- Trump urged Zelensky to halt Ukrainian strikes on Russian diesel and refinery facilities amid continuing drone attacks.
- When
- Trump made the comments on Sunday; the reported drone exchanges occurred overnight into Sunday.
- Where
- The events involved Russia and Ukraine, including Nizhnekamsk in Tatarstan, Slavyansk-on-Kuban, Odesa, and the Yahodyn-Dorohusk border crossing near Poland.
- Why
- Trump said the strikes were contributing to a diesel shortage, while Ukraine says it targets Russia’s oil and gas industry because it funds and directly supports the invasion.
Ukraine’s Stated Position
Trump’s Position
Strikes on Russian fuel facilities
Ukraine’s Stated Position
Ukraine says its strikes target Russia’s oil and gas industry because it finances and directly supports Moscow’s invasion.
Trump’s Position
Trump said Zelensky should stop attacking Russian diesel and refinery facilities because the strikes are contributing to a diesel shortage.
Scope of Ukrainian attacks
Ukraine’s Stated Position
Ukraine has used long-range strikes against Russian oil and gas facilities and other targets as part of its campaign against Moscow.
Trump’s Position
Trump said Ukraine could continue attacking targets, but should exclude diesel fuel facilities.
- Trump’s request
- He told Zelensky to stop attacking Russian diesel fuel and refinery facilities while continuing to target other sites.
- Ukraine’s stated rationale
- Kyiv says Russia’s oil and gas industry helps fund and directly support the invasion of Ukraine.
- Reported Russian casualties
- Two people were killed and 14 injured near Nizhnekamsk in Tatarstan, according to local officials.
- Reported Ukrainian casualties
- At least nine people were injured in a Russian nighttime attack on Odesa; a previous Saturday attack there reportedly killed two and injured 26.
- Russian drone claim
- Russia’s Defense Ministry said its forces shot down 389 Ukrainian drones overnight.
- Ukrainian drone claim
- Ukraine’s air force said it shot down or suppressed 409 of 453 Russian drones.
- Possible peace talks
- Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said talks involving Russia, Ukraine, and the United States could possibly resume in October.
