Kremlin Endorses Trump's Call for Ukraine to Halt Refinery Strikes

The Kremlin on Monday welcomed a call from U.S. President Donald Trump for Ukraine to halt its drone attacks on Russian diesel-producing facilities, a development that comes amid significant disruptions to Russia's domestic fuel supply.

Moscow's Response

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that any appeal for Kyiv to cease its military actions against civilian economic infrastructure is a positive step. "Any call on the Kyiv regime to stop attacks on civilian economic infrastructure can only be welcomed," Peskov said during a daily conference call with reporters, according to Reuters.

The statement was in response to comments from Trump on Sunday, in which he urged Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to stop targeting Russian diesel infrastructure. Trump argued the attacks were causing a fuel shortage that is "hurting the world."

Impact on Russia's Fuel Market

A sustained campaign of long-range Ukrainian drone attacks has successfully targeted numerous Russian oil refineries in recent months. These strikes have led to a tangible reduction in Russia's fuel production, triggering gasoline shortages in several regions across the country.

Ad

Analysts note the fuel shortages are creating domestic pressure for Moscow ahead of parliamentary elections scheduled for September 18-20. Ukraine has stated its objective is to raise the economic cost for Russia of continuing its invasion.

Broader Market Context

While acknowledging the domestic situation, Peskov sought to deflect blame for wider instability in global energy markets. He attributed the worsening conditions primarily to "instability and new rounds of escalation in the Persian Gulf region."

To address its internal supply issues, Russia is considering measures to bolster its domestic market. Peskov mentioned that a potential export ban on diesel should help alleviate the shortages within the country.