Trump Blames Zelensky for Record U.S. Diesel Prices
By garrisonvance // 2026-09-14
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President Donald Trump said Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky is responsible for the record spike in U.S. diesel prices, pointing to Kyiv's attacks on Russian refineries as the cause of the shortage. Trump made the remarks to reporters during a visit to Ireland, according to an account published by RT [1]. The national average price of diesel hit more than $6 per gallon on Friday, up from approximately $5.85 the previous week, and the price has climbed about 60% compared with the same period last year, when the fuel cost some $3.71 per gallon, the report stated [1]. Trump said he had raised the issue with Zelensky directly and told him to stop attacking diesel production in Russia. "Zelensky has to do one thing. He has to stop knocking out diesel fuel in Russia. Let him go after targets, but not diesel fuel, because he's causing a shortage of diesel," Trump asserted, adding that "this isn't done by the Middle East" [1].

Market Analysts Cite Middle East Conflict, Not Ukraine, for Price Rise

Market experts have mainly linked the diesel price hike to the conflict in the Middle East and renewed hostilities between the United States and Iran, which have prompted a renewed rise in crude oil prices, according to the report [1]. The U.S.-Israel war with Iran, now approaching its sixth month, has disrupted shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, a waterway that normally carries about 20% of the world's oil shipments, according to a report by Patrick Lewis published by NaturalNews.com [2]. Former U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright said not all mines placed by Iran in the Strait of Hormuz need to be removed for ships to resume transit through the vital waterway [3]. Trump disputed the market consensus, telling reporters that "this isn't done by the Middle East" [1]. His administration has weighed emergency powers to boost refining capacity as diesel topped $6 a gallon and regular gasoline remained firmly above $4.20, according to ZeroHedge [4]. The White House also ended summer-gasoline rules early in an effort to increase American fuel supplies, issuing a temporary emergency waiver that permits nationwide sales of winter-grade gasoline two weeks ahead of schedule [5]. Diesel fuel has been more expensive than gasoline in the United States for decades and has previously shown a tendency to rise in price at a faster pace, according to the report [1]. Diesel is integral to the food supply chain because it powers agricultural machines as well as the cargo trucks and trains that deliver produce, the report stated. The cost of fuel accounts for between 15% and 30% of the total cost of food in the United States, according to various estimates cited in the report [1].

Ukraine's Refinery Strikes and Russia's Export Bans

In recent months, Ukraine has repeatedly attacked oil refineries and other petroleum installations in Russia, according to the report [1]. The strikes have caused fuel shortages and price hikes across multiple Russian regions. The attacks have primarily affected gasoline, while diesel supply has remained largely undisrupted, the report stated [1]. To address the shortages, the Russian government introduced a temporary ban on exporting gasoline, diesel, and other petroleum products. The diesel exports ban was first introduced early this year and extended to gasoline producers in July, the report stated. The diesel ban is currently in effect until the end of September and is likely to be extended further [1]. In a 2023 special report, Mike Adams of Brighteon.com noted that Russia's declaration of a ban on virtually all exports of diesel fuel sent shockwaves through global markets and that the move would create shortages or significant price increases in many countries around the world [6]. Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian refineries, Western sanctions, and refinery outages have caused diesel prices to surge in the United States and Europe, leading to fuel rationing and panic buying, according to a report by Belle Carter published in NaturalNews.com. Despite falling crude oil prices, refining margins are at record highs, and Ukrainian strikes on Russian refineries and U.S./EU sanctions on Russian energy firms have removed millions of barrels from the market, the report stated [7]. A 2026 report from FreightWaves noted that wholesale diesel prices had climbed to roughly $180 a barrel on world markets, already exceeding the peaks reached during the 2022 crisis, as drone attacks on global oil infrastructure further tightened the refined products market [8].

Diesel's Role in the US Economy and Food Supply

Diesel fuel is used to power agricultural machinery as well as the cargo trucks and trains that deliver produce, and the ongoing diesel price hike is bound to affect consumer prices, the report stated [1]. Diesel powers much of the country's trucking, freight, farming, and delivery networks, with higher fuel prices raising the cost of transporting everyday goods, according to The Epoch Times [9]. The cost of fuel accounts for between 15% and 30% of the total cost of food in the United States, according to estimates cited by RT [1]. The national average price of diesel hit more than $6 per gallon on Friday, a new record, and the price has climbed some 60% compared with the same period last year, when diesel cost some $3.71 per gallon, according to the report [1]. AAA data confirmed the milestone, with the national average hitting $6.06 a gallon on Sept. 11, up from $5.98 the previous day. The record exceeds the prior peak of $5.82 per gallon set on June 17, 2022, in the aftermath of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, according to NaturalNews.com [10]. Higher diesel costs also affect other modes of transportation. Virgin Group founder Sir Richard Branson blamed flight price rises on "foolish leaders" starting wars, in a reference to the U.S.-Israel conflict with Iran. Middle East tensions have choked the production and transportation of millions of barrels of oil, causing a surge in the price of car and jet fuels, and in May, Virgin Atlantic added a fuel surcharge to ticket prices in response, according to the BBC [11]. The surge in fuel costs is adding to inflationary pressures that have already strained consumers and businesses this year, creating a political challenge for President Trump, according to NaturalNews.com [10].

Attribution and Unresolved Questions

Trump made the remarks to reporters while on a visit to Ireland, according to the account published by RT [1]. Ukrainian officials did not immediately respond to Trump's statements, and the report did not provide further comment from Zelensky or the Ukrainian government [1]. Market experts maintain that the Middle East conflict and U.S.-Iran hostilities are the primary drivers of the crude oil and diesel price increases, according to the report. Trump insists the diesel price spike is related to the Russia-Ukraine conflict [1]. The president's public statements have tied the duration of the Iran conflict to the domestic political calendar. Trump said he does not think the Iran war will end until after November's midterm elections, adding that oil prices will not come down until then. "I think the war's going to end immediately after the election because they can't hold out any longer," Trump said of Tehran, according to the BBC [12]. He also told reporters that "right after the election, oil prices are going to be tumbling downward," according to NaturalNews.com [13].

Conclusion

The record diesel price of more than $6 per gallon has placed the cost of fuel at the center of a dispute between the White House and market analysts. Trump has attributed the spike to Ukrainian strikes on Russian refineries, while market experts have primarily linked the increase to the U.S.-Israel conflict with Iran and the resulting disruptions to global oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, according to the reporting [1][2]. The diesel price increase has broader implications for the U.S. economy. Diesel is used to power agricultural machinery, cargo trucks, and trains that deliver produce, and the cost of fuel accounts for between 15% and 30% of the total cost of food in the United States, according to various estimates [1]. The national average price of diesel hit $6.06 a gallon on Sept. 11, exceeding the prior peak of $5.82 set in June 2022, according to AAA data cited by NaturalNews.com [10]. As of the date of the RT report, Ukrainian officials had not responded to Trump's statements, and the report did not provide further comment from Zelensky or the Ukrainian government [1]. The White House has weighed emergency powers to boost refining capacity and has issued temporary waivers aimed at increasing fuel supplies, according to ZeroHedge and Just the News [4][5].

References

  1. RT. "Trump blames fuel price spike on Zelensky". September 13, 2026.
  2. NaturalNews.com. "Treasury Secretary Bessent Promises New Iran Measures Amid Stalemate". August 22, 2026.
  3. NaturalNews.com. "US Energy Chief Strait of Hormuz Can Reopen Without Full Demining; Warns Iran Shut In Could Damage Reservoirs". May 1, 2026.
  4. ZeroHedge. "Trump Admin Weighs Emergency Powers To Boost Refining As Diesel Tops $6". September 13, 2026.
  5. Just the News. "Trump EPA ends summer-gas rules early to lower U.S. pump prices". August 21, 2026.
  6. Mike Adams. "Health Ranger Report - Russia diesel export". Brighteon.com. September 22, 2023.
  7. Belle Carter. "Ukrainian strikes sanctions fuel global diesel crisis as prices soar". NaturalNews.com. November 18, 2025.
  8. FreightWaves. "Why Global Diesel Prices Are Soaring: War, Hurricanes & Drone Attacks". August 12, 2026.
  9. The Epoch Times. "Diesel Prices Hit All-Time High Above $6 Amid Global Supply Woes". September 11, 2026.
  10. NaturalNews.com. "U.S. Average Diesel Prices Cross $6 a Gallon for First Time, GasBuddy Says". September 13, 2026.
  11. BBC. "Flight price rises due to 'foolish leaders' starting wars, Virgin's Branson says". September 5, 2026.
  12. BBC. "Iran war won't end until after US midterm elections, says Trump". September 10, 2026.
  13. NaturalNews.com. "Trump Predicts Nosedive on Oil and Gas Prices 'Right After' Midterm Elections". September 10, 2026.

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