Luis Torrado pumps diesel fuel into a tractor-trailer at a truck stop in Miami, Florida, on September 11, 2026. Diesel fuel prices in the United States have exceeded $6 per gallon for the first time in history.
Joe Radle | Getty Images News | Getty Images
US President Donald Trump has called on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to stop attacks on Russian oil refineries, saying the attacks are “hurting the world” as fuel supply disruptions caused by the war in Ukraine and Iran have pushed US diesel prices to record highs.
Ukraine has stepped up attacks on Russia’s oil facilities and logistics infrastructure in recent months, seeking to recoup Russia’s war costs after more than four-and-a-half years of conflict.
The attack has severely hampered Russia’s refining capacity, causing widespread fuel shortages, and the Russian government recently extended a ban on diesel exports until the end of September as part of efforts to stabilize domestic supplies.
“There’s one thing Mr. Zelensky has to do: He has to stop leaking diesel fuel in Russia,” President Trump said during an official visit to Ireland on Sunday.
“Let him have his targets, but not diesel fuel, because he is causing a diesel shortage. This is not done by the Middle East. This is done by what is happening in Russia and Ukraine.”
A spokesperson for Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs was not immediately available for comment when contacted by CNBC on Monday morning.
Ukraine, concerned about an extremely difficult winter amid expectations of new Russian attacks on its energy infrastructure, has previously identified Russian refineries as legitimate military targets.
Russia welcomed President Trump’s call for Ukraine to halt attacks on Russian diesel production facilities. “We can only welcome any request to the Kiev regime to stop attacks on civilian economic infrastructure,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said in a conference call with reporters, according to Reuters.
President Trump’s warning came just days after the price of diesel, a crucial fuel for everything from heavy transportation and commercial shipping to industries like mining and agriculture, exceeded $6 a gallon for the first time on Friday.
With the national average price at $6.06 per gallon, truckers and farmers are now paying about 63% more to refuel their semis and tractors than they were at this time last year, according to AAA data.
Crude oil prices soar
The sharp rise in diesel prices has coincided with soaring oil prices as fighting continues between the US and Iran in the Middle East.
international benchmark brent crude oil Futures expiring in November prices rose 3.6% to $108.41 a barrel on Monday, extending their gains after rising more than 20% over the past month.
us west texas intermediate Meanwhile, futures expiring in October traded 3.5% higher at $103.54. The contract has risen nearly 25% over the past month and last week topped $100 for the first time since May.
Oil prices over the past three months.
Fresh attacks on Saudi Arabia by the Iranian-backed Houthis and Iranian attacks on ships in the Gulf over the weekend have exacerbated regional supply concerns.
Saudi Arabia’s East-West Pipeline, a critical energy infrastructure that helps the country bypass the strategically important Strait of Hormuz, was temporarily shut down on Friday following a drone attack.
—CNBC’s Spencer Kimball contributed to this report.
