Mike Waltz explained why Trump mentioned the problems at Russian oil refineries
U.S. Permanent Representative to the UN Mike Waltz explained U.S. President Donald Trump’s remarks regarding the problems facing the Russian oil refining industry following Ukrainian attacks on oil refineries.
According to Waltz, the primary concern is the impact of reduced diesel fuel supplies on the global market.
Earlier, Donald Trump stated that Russia is facing serious problems in its oil refining sector due to strikes on refineries. The U.S. president also called for refraining from striking facilities specifically related to diesel fuel production.
Commenting on Trump’s remarks, Mike Waltz explained that the U.S. president is primarily concerned about the impact of reduced Russian diesel supplies on global prices and inflation.
“Well, Russia was a net exporter of diesel fuel. Diesel is used in tractors, trucks, and, obviously, in our aviation and navy. We’re not a country where food goes directly from the farm to the table. We have a supply chain that goes from the farm to the truck and then to the table. And diesel is one of the factors driving global inflation,” Waltz said.
According to Waltz, Russia remained an important supplier of diesel fuel to the global market before the export cuts.
Diesel is used not only in freight transport but also in agricultural machinery, aviation, and maritime transport. Because of this, disruptions in its supply can affect the cost of transportation, production, and food products.
Amid attacks on Russian refineries, Moscow had already imposed restrictions on fuel exports in an effort to secure the domestic market. Reuters reported that damage to refineries had reduced Russian diesel production, while export restrictions were putting additional pressure on global markets.
At the same time, global diesel prices reached record highs in September 2026. Several factors are influencing the market, including supply disruptions from Russia and the consequences of the war in the Middle East.
Earlier, Donald Trump stated that Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil refineries were putting additional pressure on the global diesel fuel market.
In one of his public comments, the U.S. president noted that he had asked Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy not to strike Russian diesel facilities and oil refineries, as this, in his view, affects fuel availability and prices.
At the same time, Ukraine views strikes on Russian fuel and oil refining infrastructure as part of its military operations against Russia.
Against this backdrop, Mike Woltz effectively explained that Trump’s remarks about the problems facing Russian oil refining are not driven by sympathy for the Russian economy, but by concerns over a potential reduction in the global supply of diesel fuel and a possible rise in prices.
Thus, the White House links the problems facing Russian refineries to the broader situation in the global fuel market, where diesel is a vital component of the transportation, agricultural, and industrial sectors.
This was stated by U.S. Permanent Representative to the UN Mike Waltz.
During a phone call with Volodymyr Zelenskyy on September 20, U.S. President Donald Trump repeatedly called on Ukraine to stop striking Russian oil refineries. According to Axios, Trump linked the attacks to rising global diesel fuel prices.
Ukraine is ready to halt strikes on Russian oil refineries in response to specific steps by the Kremlin aimed at de-escalation.
Gazpromneft’s Moscow refinery has completely halted crude oil processing since September 20 due to fires at its primary processing units, which were caused by a drone attack.
