President Donald Trump renewed his claim that Ukrainian attacks on Russian refineries were the main cause of diesel shortages, although the last known refinery strike was on Sept. 26 at Ilsky in Russia’s Krasnodar region. “If that didn’t happen, we wouldn’t have a diesel problem,” Trump said on Sept. 30, arguing that damage to Russian refineries mattered more than the war in the Middle East.

Attacks on Russian oil depots have been reported since Sept. 26, but not on refineries. Trump said on Sept. 27 that he had asked President Volodymyr Zelensky to ease the refinery strikes and that the Ukrainian leader replied, “Well, we'll probably do that.” Kyiv has not publicly confirmed an agreement to stop or scale back the attacks, leaving any connection between Trump’s request and the gap in reported refinery strikes unconfirmed.

US diesel prices reached a record $6.51 a gallon on Sept. 21, up 16.7% from a month earlier and 76% from a year earlier. Zelensky has offered a reciprocal energy ceasefire if Russia stops attacking Ukraine’s electricity, heating and water supply. Washington agreed to convey that proposal to Moscow.