Trump announced energy truce to appease U.S. voters over fuel costs — Financial Times

Citing two senior Ukrainian officials, the publication noted that Trump’s overtures are tailored primarily for a domestic American audience frustrated by soaring fuel inflation.

On Sept. 13, Trump criticized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy over long-range drone strikes on Russian oil refineries, attempting to blame Kyiv for rising global diesel costs.

On Sept. 14, the Kremlin publicly welcomed the U.S. leader's remarks.

Surging diesel prices have evolved into a formidable political vulnerability for Trump: infrastructure damage resulting from his administration’s war against Iran, coupled with Russia’s war against Ukraine, has constricted global supply lines and driven prices inside the United States to unprecedented highs.

However, an assessment by the KSE Institute demonstrates that the U.S. confrontation with Iran has exerted a far more severe impact on international diesel and gasoil supplies than Ukrainian strikes on Russian refining capacity.

Between March and August, diesel and gasoil exports from the Persian Gulf declined by 152 million barrels, compared to a reduction of 68 million barrels in Russian exports. Consequently, lost supplies originating from the Persian Gulf were roughly 2.2 times greater than disruptions tied to Russia.

The Financial Times emphasized that Trump's claim of an existing bilateral pact between Kyiv and Moscow to halt strikes against critical energy assets clearly jumped ahead of any formal agreement.

Reality Behind the Energy Ceasefire Claims

Trump’s Truth Social statement: On Sept. 14, Trump claimed Ukraine agreed to refrain from targeting Russian energy facilities and that Russia agreed to reciprocate. He asserted that global diesel inflation was "primarily caused by Russia’s war against Ukraine" rather than his military operations around Iran.

Zelenskyy’s terms: President Volodymyr Zelenskyy countered that Kyiv would only consider halting strikes on Russian critical assets if international partners can guarantee genuine, verifiable reciprocity from Moscow covering the energy grid, civilian utility systems, and maritime food corridors.

Lack of Russian will: In his evening address, Zelenskyy clarified that while Washington submitted a proposal for a mutual halt to strikes on critical infrastructure, Russia has exhibited no genuine readiness to de-escalate.

Trump’s golf tournament remarks: Speaking to reporters on Sept. 13 at the Irish Open, Trump insisted: "Zelenskyy has only one thing to do. He has to stop knocking out the diesel capacity in Russia. He's causing diesel shortage."