It wasn’t that long ago that President Zelensky got himself thrown out of the White House for, among other things, trying to talk over the president. That was very ill-advised. At the time, it seemed pretty clear that President Trump felt like the war between Ukraine and Russia was a foregone conclusion. “You don’t have the cards,” Trump said at the time.
And, to be honest, Trump wasn’t very diplomatic but he also wasn’t wrong. Ukraine really didn’t have the cards at the time and in Feb. 2025 and their chances did not look good at that moment.
But that’s not at all how things have gone in 2026. Ever since Elon Musk shut down Russia’s access to Starlink, Russia’s advances on the battlefield have slowed to a crawl. Even more significantly, a surge of homemade Ukrainian drones has resulted in dozens of strikes deep inside Russia, especially targeting Russia’s oil refineries. As a result, Russia went from one of the world’s leading exporters to having to import gasoline and still falling short of demand. Here’s a recent video from St. Petersburg.
St. Petersburg gasoline crisis: Only 55 out of 175 stations had fuel, drivers waiting up to 7 hours, fights breaking out in queues.
It is caused by Ukrainian drone strikes knocking out the region’s main refinery in Kirishi.
Black market fuel hitting 600–750 rubles per liter.… pic.twitter.com/i6NKATTBl6
— Clash Report (@clashreport) September 14, 2026
Yesterday, President Trump said he called Zelensky to ask him to stop blowing up Russian refineries.
President Donald Trump on Sunday said he called Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to ask him to “stop knocking out diesel fuel” targets in Russia, saying the attacks were contributing to a global shortage of the fuel.
“Mr. Zelensky has to do one thing. He has to stop knocking out diesel fuel, let them go after targets but not diesel fuel, because he’s causing a shortage of diesel,” Trump said, adding that there were “plenty other targets.”
Trump made his comments after the U.S. average price for diesel hit an all-time high of $6 per gallon on Friday, reinforcing concerns about the cost of living less than two months before the Nov. 3 midterm elections.
American emissaries have been talking to both Ukraine and Russia earlier this month but it sounds as if Trump just got tired of waiting for progress and wanted to handle things himself. The fact that he called Zelensky to ease up definitely shows how the tables have turned. If nothing else, it’s a recognition that Ukraine has a big say in global prices right now.
This morning, Trump posted this message on Truth Social: “Ukraine has agreed not to hit Russian Energy targets. Russia has agreed to do, likewise! The World’s Diesel price rise is mostly caused by the Russia/Ukraine War, not Iran. President DJT”
So has some kind of deal been reached? Well, not exactly. Zelensky did apparenty tell Trump that he’s willing to make a deal if Russia will also stop bombing Ukrainian infrastructure, but just because he’s willing doesn’t mean he’s optimistic about Russia going along with it.
Ukraine has proposed that its partners secure an agreement with Russia that would stop the destruction of critical infrastructure. Food, energy, and other basics that sustain life must be protected, and Russian strikes are directed primarily against them. Every day, Ukrainian…
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) September 14, 2026
Ukraine has proposed that its partners secure an agreement with Russia that would stop the destruction of critical infrastructure. Food, energy, and other basics that sustain life must be protected, and Russian strikes are directed primarily against them. Every day, Ukrainian energy facilities, port infrastructure, logistics, and even warehouses storing food and pharmaceuticals are targeted. Ukraine is not convinced that Russia is willing to abide by any agreement.
If our partners are ready to ensure that Russia genuinely refrains from striking our electricity system, other energy facilities, critical infrastructure, and food supply routes, then, of course, we are ready to ensure a corresponding halt to our strikes. So that it is reliable, long-term, has a real impact on people’s lives, and does not fall apart after the Russians hold their “elections” and get an easing of pressure on gasoline and diesel precisely for that period. The war must be brought to an end. And a de-escalatory step regarding critical infrastructure could be the first step toward peace. We expect specifics from our partners.
Russia has been bombing Ukraine’s energy grid since 2022. Here’s a story from the time:
In September, Russian missiles attacked power-generating facilities and substations, which caused interruptions of electricity supplies in Kharkiv oblast and in the cities of neighboring regions. Informally, Russian president Vladimir Putin admitted responsibility for these attacks on critical infrastructure and threatened to up the intensity of the attacks.
On October 10, Russia carried out the most massive missile and drone attack to date on Ukraine. Besides civil infrastructure, the key target was the energy grid, including electricity-generating and transmission infrastructure across the country. Heavy attacks on energy facilities were repeated the next day, with activity continuing over the next two weeks at a somewhat reduced level.
So, yes, Ukraine would love it if Russia would stop bombing civilians and their energy grid, but after four years it’s hard to believe that’s about to happen. On the other hand, Ukraine’s ability to do the same to Russia has clearly changed the dynamic. Now you have President Trump asking Ukraine to lay off and that might create a little bit of pressure on Putin to do likewise if Ukraine is willing. So far, Russia has been non-committal.
The Kremlin has not issued any comments on Trump’s announcement yet. Earlier today, its spokesman Dmitry Peskov praised Trump’s call for Kyiv to stop attacks on “peaceful economic infrastructure,” but refused to say whether Russia will stop bombing Ukraine’s infrastructure if Kyiv agrees.
But Ukraine has given Russia some more reason to think about it. As I was writing this post, this story just broke on X. Ukraine has hit another Russian refinery and it is now burning.
BREAKING:
Ukrainian long-range drones have struck Syzran Oil Refinery in Russia.
The oil refinery, one of Russia’s ten largest refineries, is now on fire. pic.twitter.com/8AOzvsllnH
— Visegrád 24 (@visegrad24) September 15, 2026
This is not the first time that this facility has been hit. The same one was hit last month and again earlier this year. But each new strike shuts it down for a time and forces Putin to spend money on rebuilding.
Bottom line: Ukraine is not interested in a cease fire until Russia is willing to do the same. Until then, the drones will keep coming.
Read the full article here
