Trump calls on Ukraine to stop targeting Russian refineries as both countries trade strikes

Updated on: September 13, 2026 / 10:44 AM EDT / CBS/AP

President Trump on Sunday called on his Ukrainian counterpart to halt strikes on Russian refineries, saying the attacks are causing a shortage of diesel.

Mr. Trump, who is in Ireland watching the Irish Open at one of his golf courses for the weekend, was asked by a reporter if he had spoken with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy following his recent conversation with Russia's Vladimir Putin. The U.S. president responded by calling on Zelenskyy to halt strikes against Russia.

"Mr. Zelensky has to do one thing. He has to stop knocking out diesel fuel in Russia," Mr. Trump said. "Let him go after targets but not diesel fuel, because he's causing a shortage of diesel fuel."

Ukraine's recent long-range strikes have targeted Russia's oil and gas industry, which Kyiv says both funds and directly fuels its war on Ukraine.

Mr. Trump's remarks come as Russia and Ukraine continued overnight waves of drone attacks.

Two people were killed in Russia's Tatarstan, according to local officials. At the same time, Ukrainian authorities reported Russian drone attacks on the Black Sea port of Odesa and a fire near a border crossing with Poland.

Original source: https://www.cbsnews.com/entertainment/