Trump pressures Zelenskyy to halt Russian refinery strikes

• Donald Trump explicitly blamed the strikes for driving up global diesel prices.
• The two leaders agreed to hold a pivotal bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York to discuss de-escalation steps and energy security.

US President Donald Trump repeatedly urged Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to halt drone attacks on Russian oil refineries during a phone call on Sunday, citing concerns over surging global diesel prices, according to reporting by Axios.

A source familiar with the discussion told Axios that Trump raised the issue multiple times throughout the call, placing strong emphasis on the economic strain caused by fuel market disruptions. 

"The word 'diesel' was mentioned many times during the conversation," the source noted.

The phone call set the stage for an upcoming bilateral meeting between the two leaders on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York, scheduled for Sept. 22. 

Rustem Umierov, Head of Ukraine's Foreign Intelligence Service, confirmed to Axios that he has been coordinating with White House envoys over recent days to finalize the itinerary for the talks.

Following the Sunday call, President Zelenskyy announced that he had agreed to meet Trump in New York, noting on social media that "there are ideas for de-escalation steps and for addressing fundamental security issues." 

The planned high-level meeting comes as the White House actively seeks to broker a reciprocal de-escalation framework between Kyiv and Moscow to restart negotiations.

Trump’s appeal during Sunday's conversation marks his latest push to limit Ukrainian long-range strikes against Russian petroleum infrastructure.

On Sept. 14, Trump publicly stated that he had requested Zelenskyy pause targeting Russian diesel production, arguing that a significant portion of global supplies relies on Russian output and that continued strikes risk creating worldwide shortages. 

He had previously made similar arguments, cautioning that hitting diesel facilities was causing global market instability.

However, Trump’s stance on the strikes has shifted over time. Earlier in July, he noted that Ukrainian operations against Russian refineries served as a necessary form of escalation that could potentially force an end to the conflict.

The diplomatic push to curb strikes on energy targets occurs amid a severe backdrop of ongoing hostilities. 

Over recent weeks, Ukrainian long-range drone strikes have repeatedly hit major Russian refining centers, while Russian forces have continued daily missile and drone attacks against Ukrainian cities and energy infrastructure.

With Trump set to deliver his address to the UN General Assembly on Sept. 22, the upcoming bilateral session with Zelenskyy is expected to focus on potential short-term de-escalation measures, energy security guarantees, and the broader path toward peace negotiations.