Trump, Zelenskyy, and the $6-per-gallon diesel price as a distraction (September 15)

I believe Trump’s latest attempt at distraction is futile. First, Ukraine currently holds strong cards and is in no way intimidated by Trump’s threats—a fact now widely acknowledged. The U.S. cannot even manage Iran, and has now refused aid to Saudi Arabia; who would care about the ineffectual president of an ineffectual country? Second, Trump’s supporters have consistently opposed aid to Ukraine, while his opponents distrust everything he says—so this ploy is highly unlikely to sway the election. Ukraine should remain unwavering and continue its decisive campaign to defeat Russia completely. Trump, Zelenskyy, and the $6-per-gallon diesel price as a distraction Ukraine is targeting the economic engine funding Putin’s invasion. Trump clearly hopes to halt Kyiv’s actions before the midterm elections. Beefeater Fella, September 14, 2026 Donald Trump has found an extremely convenient explanation for America’s high fuel prices: it is not due to the war with Iran, nor to the unusual chaos near the Strait of Hormuz; not to instability in the Red Sea, the collapse of Gulf oil exports, or renewed U.S. military conflict in the Middle East. In Trump’s view, Americans should look instead to Volodymyr Zelenskyy. “I’ve asked Zelenskyy not to attack Russian refineries,” Trump declared. “The reason diesel prices are rising is that Russian diesel exports are hampered. This situation harms global interests, and we must stop it.” There is enough economic logic embedded in this claim to lend it political weight. Ukraine’s strikes have damaged Russia’s refining capacity, reduced petroleum product exports, and tightened international diesel supply. As a major diesel exporter, Russia’s diminished output inevitably has consequences. Yet acknowledging that Ukraine has driven up diesel prices is entirely different from pretending Ukraine has manufactured a broader energy crisis. That is simply untrue. The epicenter of the larger energy crisis lies thousands of kilometers south of Ukraine—centered on the Persian Gulf, the Strait of Hormuz, and the increasingly volatile Red Sea coast. Unfortunately for Trump, this crisis erupted during his administration—and may severely damage Republican prospects in the upcoming midterm elections. International Energy Agency (IEA) data from September 2026 is deeply unsettling for those attempting to attribute the current sharp oil-price surge primarily to Ukrainian attacks on Russian refineries. Brent crude has climbed to approximately $105 per barrel—about 45% higher than pre-Iran-war levels—while U.S. diesel and gasoil prices have surged past $200 per barrel, roughly 94% above pre-conflict levels. These staggering increases coincide precisely with massive disruptions to Gulf oil supplies. By August, Gulf oil exports had plummeted to roughly 13 million barrels per day—nearly half their pre-war level. Refined product and LPG exports fell about 3.7 million barrels per day below February levels, while Gulf diesel and light distillate exports collapsed to just ~390,000 barrels per day—only one-quarter of previous volumes. These are not minor fluctuations in distant markets. They represent vast quantities of oil removed from the global system—where even relatively small imbalances between supply and demand can trigger wildly disproportionate price spikes.

The International Energy Agency states Ukraine has crippled 30% of Russia’s refining capacity; Trump intervenes hastily to call for a halt

The severity of the problem is further compounded by sanctions, which have left Russia nearly incapable of repairing the damage. International sanctions targeting Russia’s energy sector restrict its access to replacement equipment. Today’s drone strikes are increasingly targeting secondary processing units at refineries—equipment whose replacement requires six to eight months. The IEA candidly admits that even this “more cautious assessment” may underestimate the true depth of distress confronting Russia’s refining complex. As winter approaches and procurement cycles for spare parts lengthen, pressure on Russia’s fuel system will only intensify. Ukraine’s strike capabilities are also rapidly evolving. The IEA observes that Ukrainian forces are deploying multi-wave drone attacks against single targets—overwhelming Russian air defenses and protective networks—while precision continues to improve markedly. Russia is already experiencing severe fuel shortages: long queues form at gas stations, and the country has been forced to import gasoline from South Korea and Turkey—and even repurchase fuel refined in India from its own crude oil. For a nation once proud of its status as a leading global exporter of refined products, this is a deeply ironic reversal. II. Trump urges Zelenskyy to halt attacks on Russian refineries, claiming Ukraine’s strikes on Russian diesel “harm the world.” Just as Ukrainian drone operations expand their success, a sudden emergency brake sounds across the Atlantic. On September 13, while attending a golf tournament in Ireland, Trump told reporters: “Mr. Zelenskyy needs to do one thing: he must stop destroying Russia’s diesel reserves.” He added that Ukraine could strike “many other targets—but not diesel,” because such strikes “are harming the entire world.” On the surface, Trump’s remarks appear motivated by concern for global fuel supply. In reality, they are tightly linked to spiraling diesel prices within the United States. This week, the national average diesel price in the U.S. surpassed $6 per gallon for the first time—setting a new record. Diesel powers trucks, trains, ships, and heavy machinery—the very backbone of global supply chains. Its soaring price is reigniting inflationary pressures across the entire supply chain. What alarms the White House even more is that less than two months remain until the November midterms, and high fuel prices have become a heavy electoral burden for Republicans. Trump attempts to pin responsibility for diesel shortages on the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Speaking to reporters, he claimed the shortage “does not stem from the Middle East, but from the situation between Russia and Ukraine.” Yet this assertion contradicts reality. Since late February, when the U.S. and Israel launched military strikes against Iran, shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has been severely disrupted, pushing international oil prices back above $100 per barrel—and U.S. diesel prices have more than doubled over five months. American consumers have paid an extra $100.5 billion for fuel—equivalent to $767 per household, on average. Trump’s call for Ukraine to cease operations is, in essence, an effort to find a scapegoat for the Iran war he initiated. What truly worries Washington is not global diesel supply—but the visceral pain American voters feel at the pump. Yet when the U.S. diesel crack spread hits a historic high of $112 per barrel, merely demanding Ukraine “stop hitting diesel” clearly cannot resolve this energy crisis—a crisis born from the叠加 of multiple geopolitical conflicts.

As Iran War Drives Up Gasoline Prices in US, Trump Blames Ukraine, Democrats

6 days ago

President Trump blamed Ukraine and Democrats for soaring U.S. gasoline prices following Iran's restriction on Strait of Hormuz oil flows. Global energy markets remain volatile due to refinery attacks and geopolitical tensions impacting oil and diesel supplies.

reuters

2026-08-07

UK Unions Urge Burnham to Pressure Trump to End Iran War Over Cost of Living

2026-08-14

Food Purchases Become More Difficult in Iran Amid Trump Pressure

2026-09-18

Iran War Drives Bigger Diesel Supply Loss Despite Trump’s Claims

2026-10-05

As Iran War Drives Up Gasoline Prices in US, Trump Blames Ukraine, Democrats

As Iran War Drives Up Gasoline Prices in US, Trump Blames Ukraine, Democrats

FAQ