Trump is concerned that diesel prices are being driven up by Russia's war against Ukraine.
"Russia has unfortunately lost control of its diesel industry due to its war on Ukraine. A large number of its diesel refineries have been blown up and are, at least temporarily, out of service," Trump wrote on Truth Social on Monday.
In a call with Zelenskyy on Sunday, Trump asked the Ukrainian president to stop attacks on Russian oil refineries, the Financial Times reports, citing sources familiar with the call. Trump made the same appeal to Ukraine during a press conference this week.
The president has recently begun to claim that the high fuel prices are mainly related to the Ukraine war, rather than the war against Iran that he himself started together with Israel and which led to blocked oil and gas transport in the important Strait of Hormuz.
In response to Trump's post on Monday, Zelenskyy wrote that "a dialogue with President Trump and the United States is underway."
"Ukraine's energy sector, critical infrastructure and food exports must cease to be targets for Russia, which in that case will lead to a corresponding de-escalation on our part. Solutions are possible," the Ukrainian president writes on X.
He adds that the issue will be discussed with Ukraine's allies in connection with the UN General Assembly in New York this week.
Zelenskyy is expected to meet Trump there on Tuesday afternoon local time, according to a source to AFP.
