Within 48 hours, Russian diesel will arrive in the U.S.! No Ukrainian president would ever strike a deal with Trump.

Just after Trump announced relaxed sanctions on Russia—permitting Russia to sell millions of barrels of diesel to the U.S. and the world—media reports revealed that a 'shadow fleet' tanker carrying $60 million worth of diesel (280,000 barrels) was en route to the United States. The vessel departed from the Port of Saint Petersburg on September 22 and is expected to reach the U.S. West Coast within 48 hours. Russia indeed faces rising diesel prices and supply shortages—but even while importing diesel from other countries, the Kremlin continues exporting diesel, essentially choosing to 'tighten its belt' at home. Those familiar with history will readily grasp this: even during the Great Famine, grain exports continued; diesel exports are no different. In other words, the agreement had already been reached well before Trump’s phone call with Putin. The negotiations between U.S. and Ukrainian delegations in Florida were merely a façade—a ruse to lull Ukraine and Europe into complacency. European delegation members, upon realizing they’d been duped by Trump and his aides Witkoff and Kushner, said: 'We were all stunned—we sat there like fools listening to Witkoff and Kushner speak. Yet it was he who dragged us all into the Iran war—a hopeless war with no exit—and now he’s betraying us… solely to buy himself a brief, illusory breathing space just weeks before the election.' The true and sole purpose of the Florida talks for Trump was to continue pressuring Ukraine. According to Axios and other media outlets, Witkoff and Kushner warned Ukraine during the negotiations that if Kyiv persisted in ignoring Trump’s demands and kept striking Russian refineries, the U.S. might halt intelligence sharing with Ukraine—an intelligence flow vital to the war effort. Trump himself has resumed attacking Zelenskyy and Ukraine, accusing Zelenskyy of ordering strikes on Russian refineries that drove up fuel prices: 'He wants to create diesel shortages—not just for the world, but for our farmers.' Though I myself feel somewhat weary—perhaps even repetitive—I must reiterate: the root cause of diesel price hikes and shortages is not Ukraine’s attacks on Russian refineries, but rather Trump’s own 'crying wolf' maneuver. Even Trump knows this: when he first blamed Ukraine for refinery strikes causing diesel price surges, he also cited the Middle East conflict—the foolish, botched war he launched and which has since spiraled out of control. In early January, Brent crude stood at $62 per barrel—by then, Ukraine had already been striking Russian refineries continuously. By October 5, Brent crude had surged to $102.60 per barrel, and U.S. diesel prices had climbed from $3.80 per gallon before the Middle East conflict to a peak of $6.529 per gallon in September. These figures alone tell the story. I’m not criticizing Trump and Netanyahu for targeting the Ayatollah regime—I’m criticizing Trump’s foolish belief that he could replicate his Venezuela gamble in Iran, and his panicked, cowardly retreat when the operation spiraled beyond his expectations—his failure to see the war through to the complete dismantling of the Ayatollah regime. To Trump supporters still standing by him: ask yourselves honestly—what tangible results has this war Trump launched actually achieved?

The International Energy Agency says Ukraine has crippled 30% of Russia’s refining capacity; Trump intervenes hastily, demanding an immediate halt.

Please remember to like and share! If you haven’t yet subscribed, please follow the account 'Sanlang Macroeconomics'. Thank you! Summary: Ukraine’s sustained drone strikes against Russian oil refineries have inflicted severe damage: the International Energy Agency (IEA) confirms that Ukrainian drone attacks have cost Russia 30% of its refining capacity, placing global diesel supplies under mounting pressure. Trump, alarmed by soaring fuel prices, has publicly demanded that Zelenskyy cease attacks on Russian refineries. Yet amid escalating battlefield dynamics, unilaterally pressuring Ukraine to stand down is unlikely to meaningfully advance peace. I. The IEA states that Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian refineries have reduced Russia’s refining capacity by 30%. Ukraine’s persistent drone bombardment of Russian refining facilities is undermining—faster than anticipated—the fuel-processing capabilities of the world’s second-largest crude exporter. In its latest monthly oil report, the IEA revised downward its baseline forecast for Russian oil processing over the next 18 months to approximately 4 million barrels per day—down a full 30% from pre-war (2022) levels. Behind this figure lies a months-long, intensifying campaign of long-range strikes. The IEA’s report unusually singles out Kyiv’s drone strategy. It notes: 'Ongoing drone strikes and fragmented repair efforts are generating cumulative negative effects and worsening the resilience of Russia’s refining system.' In August alone, Russian refineries suffered at least 22 strikes—the highest monthly tally since the war began. Refinery throughput in August fell to roughly 3.8 million barrels per day, far below the year-ago level of about 5 million barrels per day. In short, Ukraine is using low-cost drones to systematically dismantle a refining infrastructure Russia spent decades building. The severity deepens because sanctions leave Russia nearly unable to heal these wounds. International sanctions targeting Russia’s energy sector restrict access to replacement equipment. Drones now target secondary refining units—equipment whose replacement requires six to eight months. The IEA candidly admits that even this 'more conservative assessment' may underestimate the real plight confronting Russia’s refining complex. As winter approaches and parts procurement timelines lengthen further, pressure on Russia’s fuel systems will only intensify. Ukraine’s strike capabilities are also rapidly evolving. The IEA observes that Ukrainian forces are deploying multi-wave drone assaults against single targets—overwhelming Russian air defenses and anti-drone systems—with markedly improved precision. Russia is already experiencing acute fuel shortages: gas stations face long queues, and Moscow has resorted to importing gasoline from South Korea and Turkey—and even repurchasing fuel refined in India from its own exported crude. For a nation once proud of its status as a top global refined-fuel exporter, this reversal is deeply ironic. II. Trump urges Zelenskyy to halt strikes on Russian refineries, claiming Ukraine’s attacks on Russian diesel 'harm the world.' Just as Ukraine’s drone campaign yields expanding results, a sharp brake is applied 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 may strike 'many other targets—but not diesel,' because such strikes 'are harming the entire world.'

Logistics, rising global prices could create diesel shortage in Ukraine, industry outlet says

14 hours ago

Fuel industry outlet Enkorr warns that logistical bottlenecks and rising European fuel prices may trigger a diesel shortage in Ukraine. Low Danube water levels and border delays have significantly reduced import capacity while domestic refineries remain damaged from the war.

reuters

2026-10-12

Logistics, rising global prices could create diesel shortage in Ukraine, industry outlet says

Logistics, rising global prices could create diesel shortage in Ukraine, industry outlet says

FAQ