Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky arrives for the 81st United Nations General Assembly at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, on September 22, 2026.
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U.S. President Donald Trump is expected to pressure his Ukrainian counterpart to agree to an energy truce with Russia in a high-stakes meeting on Tuesday, saying that Moscow has “unfortunately lost control” of its diesel oil industry due to the war.
Trump is set to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Tuesday, in a rare sit-down meeting of the two leaders at a high-level event.
The pair are poised to discuss further air defense support for Kyiv ahead of winter, Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian oil refineries and how to bring an end to the more than 4½-year conflict.
In a post Monday on Truth Social, Trump said “a large number” of Russian diesel oil refineries had been “blown up” and were, at least temporarily, out of commission, without providing further details.
“This ridiculous and never ending War with Ukraine must be ended. The whole World suffers as 25,000 people, mostly soldiers, are being killed each month. What a shame!” Trump said.
A spokesperson for Russia’s embassy in London was not immediately available to comment when contacted by CNBC.
Trump has previously called on Zelenskyy to stop targeting Russian oil refineries with drone strikes, which he says are “hurting the world” as fuel supply disruptions from the Ukraine and Iran wars propel U.S. diesel prices to a record high.
U.S. retail diesel prices have climbed above $6.50 per gallon for the first time, according to the latest figures from AAA, as global supplies through the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz have been curtailed by the Iran war.
Ukraine has insisted that Russian energy sites are legitimate military targets as it continues to resist Russian forces that invaded the country in early 2022. Russia’s Defense Ministry, meanwhile, has said it is planning “massive strikes” on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, amplifying fears of another winter assault.
Zelenskyy: ‘Solutions are possible’
Zelenskyy on Monday said his government remained in talks with the Trump administration, saying there were ideas “on the table for bringing peace closer, starting with strong de-escalation steps.”
He added: “Ukraine’s energy sector, critical infrastructure, and our food exports must stop being targets for Russia, and this will lead to matching de-escalation steps on our part. Solutions are possible.”
Ukraine’s president, who arrived in New York on Monday evening and met with French President Emmanuel Macron, said Kyiv was ready to work with its partners on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly this week.
Cars form long queues to refuel at a Rosneft petrol station in St. Petersburg, Russia, on September 15, 2026.
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Ukraine launched what is thought to have been the largest drone attack on the Moscow region to date on Sunday, damaging a facility at an oil refinery on the city’s outskirts. The attack, which killed three people, came on the final day of voting in Russia’s tightly controlled State Duma election.
The ruling United Russia party, which is supported by Russian President Vladimir Putin, won a record number of seats in the national parliament, according to near-complete official election results on Monday.