Trump says US discussing Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil refineries
In short
US President Donald Trump said the United States is discussing the situation with Ukrainian attacks on Russian oil refineries, Russian outlets reported. Trump said the strikes “cause a lot of problems” and had earlier called them a cause of rising US fuel prices. He gave no details of who the talks involve or what has been agreed.
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US President Donald Trump said he is discussing the situation with Ukrainian armed forces' attacks on Russian oil refineries, RIA Novosti and Kommersant reported. Kommersant said Trump did not specify with whom or about what the discussions are taking place. [ 1 , 2 ]
“We are talking about it. I think they are slowing down. They cause a lot of problems,” Kommersant quoted Trump as saying, in commenting on a publication in which he called the attacks on Russian refineries the cause of rising fuel prices in the United States. According to Kommersant, Trump also said the Middle East conflict, which led to limited oil exports from Persian Gulf countries, no longer affects the situation. [ 2 ]
Kommersant reported that in late September Trump said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had agreed to soften strikes on Russian refineries, without providing details of any arrangements. It noted that in March 2025 a mutual cessation of strikes on Russian and Ukrainian energy infrastructure was discussed, with the sides assessing compliance differently, and that no publicly disclosed terms followed for a new restriction specifically on Russian refineries, so the earlier scheme does not confirm a separate existing agreement on the plants. [ 2 ]
The same report cited the head of global commodity research at JPMorgan as estimating that in July 2026 world refineries processed 8.4 million barrels of oil per day less than before the war, producing 10% less fuel, and recalled that in March 2024 Zelensky said Washington had urged Kyiv to stop strikes on Russian refineries over concerns about gasoline prices. [ 2 ]
Why it matters
The remarks touch on a campaign that has hit Russian refining capacity and, according to Trump, on US fuel prices. Any limits on strikes would affect both the war's course and global fuel supply, though the documents disclose no confirmed arrangement.
Key facts
- US President Donald Trump said he is discussing the situation with Ukrainian armed forces' attacks on Russian oil refineries [ 1 , 2 ]
- Trump did not specify with whom the discussions are taking place or what they concern, Kommersant reported [ 2 ]
- Trump said “they are slowing down” and that the strikes “cause a lot of problems” [ 2 ]
- Trump had earlier called the attacks on Russian refineries a cause of rising fuel prices in the United States [ 2 ]
- Trump said the Middle East conflict, which limited Persian Gulf oil exports, no longer affects the situation [ 2 ]
- Kommersant cited JPMorgan's head of global commodity research estimating that in July 2026 world refineries processed 8.4 million barrels per day less than before the war, producing 10% less fuel [ 2 ]
Confirmed by several sources
Still unclear
- With whom and about what exactly the discussions are taking place Kommersant states Trump did not specify this, and RIA Novosti's document carries only a headline.
- Whether any agreement limiting strikes on Russian refineries exists and on what terms Kommersant says no publicly disclosed terms followed the discussions, and that an earlier scheme on energy infrastructure does not confirm a separate current agreement on refineries.
- What effect the discussions have had on the frequency of strikes Trump's remark that strikes are “slowing down” is a single-source claim from Kommersant with no figures or confirmation from other outlets.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- RIA Novosti publishes a headline report on Trump's statement about discussing Ukrainian attacks on Russian refineries [ 1 ]
- Kommersant publishes its report with Trump's quotes and background [ 2 ]
- Trump says Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky agreed to soften strikes on Russian refineries, without giving details [ 2 ]
- Mutual cessation of strikes on Russian and Ukrainian energy infrastructure was discussed, with the sides assessing compliance differently [ 2 ]
- Zelensky said Washington had urged Kyiv to stop strikes on Russian refineries over fears of rising gasoline prices [ 2 ]