During a recent conversation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, U.S. President Donald Trump repeatedly mentioned the word “diesel” as he urged Ukraine to cease its attacks that affect diesel fuel production in Russia. Trump expressed concerns that such strikes contribute to escalating global diesel prices.
This dialogue occurred against the backdrop of Trump signing the late Senator Lindsey Graham’s sanctions bill targeting Russia. Zelensky characterized the call as significant, leading to an agreement for a meeting next week in New York during the UN General Assembly, which could potentially alter the course of discussions.
On September 20, Ukraine launched a substantial attack on Russia, hitting the Moscow Oil Refinery located in the Kapotnya area of the Russian capital. Moscow’s Mayor Sergey Sobyanin reported that Russian air defense reportedly shot down over 1,600 drones, with around 450 intercepted as they approached Moscow.
Zelensky confirmed the attack, emphasizing that Russia must end the war and pursue peace. He indicated that there are potential steps for de-escalation regarding energy and food security, which require political will.
On September 13, Trump had previously commented that Ukraine should stop destroying Russian diesel, stating it “harms the world,” a sentiment welcomed by the Kremlin. The following day, he claimed that Ukraine and Russia agreed to refrain from attacking each other’s energy infrastructure. Zelensky noted that this might involve halting strikes on energy facilities, port infrastructure, logistics, and food and pharmaceutical storage. He expressed hope for concrete proposals from partners.
According to the Financial Times, as of September 14, the final agreement on halting attacks was still under preparation. By September 15, Zelensky expressed readiness for an energy truce with Russia, although he highlighted differing interpretations of what “energy” means between the two nations. For Putin, it involves the sale of oil and gas, while for Ukraine, it means ensuring electricity access for its citizens. Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesman Georgiy Tikhiy stated on September 16 that Ukraine is prepared for an energy ceasefire and awaits specific lists of targets from Russia to finalize details.
