Trump Says Russia Has Lost Control of Diesel Sector

US President Donald Trump stepped up calls for an end to the war in Ukraine on Monday, saying Ukrainian attacks on Russian refineries had badly damaged Moscow’s energy sector and claiming Russia had lost control of its diesel industry, Politico reports.

Intensified Ukrainian attacks on Russian energy infrastructure have disabled almost half of the country’s refining capacity, according to a report cited by Politico. Trump said a large number of Russian diesel refineries had been damaged and were at least temporarily out of operation.

Trump called for an end to the war, claiming that 25,000 people, mostly soldiers, were being killed each month.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky responded that Kyiv was prepared to stop attacks on Russia if Moscow did the same. He said Russia must stop targeting Ukraine’s energy sector, critical infrastructure and food exports, which would lead to corresponding de-escalation measures from Kyiv.

The two presidents are due to meet in New York on Tuesday. Zelensky said there was “diplomatic momentum” ahead of the talks and that possible de-escalation measures and broader security issues, including energy and food security and the protection of human life, were under discussion.

(mja)