There is no evidence Ukraine is reducing the tempo of its campaign, with at least 12 documented strikes on Russian oil refineries since the beginning of September. Trump first pressed Zelensky to halt the attacks in a phone call last weekend, when his main message was "diesel, diesel… diesel," according to people familiar with the call. US diesel prices have hit a record $6.51 a gallon, up from $3.70 a year ago, and Zelensky says the strikes have destroyed 45% of Russia's diesel refining capacity. Javier Blas says Kyiv's refinery strikes are part of the diesel problem but that Trump is "wrong in singling them out as all of the problem."
Zelensky has refused to halt the strikes unilaterally, saying "Diesel may matter to some, but our lives matter more," and argues the price spike is driven primarily by the crisis around the Strait of Hormuz. He says Ukraine is ready for an energy ceasefire if Russia stops attacking its electricity, heating and water supply, a proposal Washington agreed to convey to Moscow. Negotiations will resume in 10 days ahead of a proposed trilateral meeting in the UAE, though Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said there are still no concrete details on organizing it.