--- title: "Trump asked Zelensky to stop attacks on Russian refineries" publication: "MediaBias News" url: "https://mediabias.news/business/trump-asked-zelensky-to-stop-attacks-on-russian-refineries" api: "https://mediabias.news/api/v1/stories/trump-asked-zelensky-to-stop-attacks-on-russian-refineries" markdown: "https://mediabias.news/business/trump-asked-zelensky-to-stop-attacks-on-russian-refineries.md" audio: "https://mediabias.news/api/audio/trump-asked-zelensky-to-stop-attacks-on-russian-refineries" category: "Business & Economy" area: "Russia" published: "2026-09-21T13:25:30.534Z" source_reported: "2026-09-21T12:42:00.000Z" updated: "2026-09-21T13:25:30.534Z" trust_score: 47 critic_score: 85 hype_score: 15 assessment_type: "coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis" fact_check_status: "not-performed" coverage_measured: "2026-09-21T14:15:19.337872+00:00" --- # Trump asked Zelensky to stop attacks on Russian refineries *Former US president cited concerns over global diesel shortages and rising prices, according to reports.* **Scores for the source reporting** (0-100, assessing the original journalism this article was written from, not this write-up): - Trust 47 of 100, higher is better. Only anonymous FT sources cited; no named officials, giving moderate trust (47). - Craft 85 of 100, higher is better. Clear explanation of diesel impact, specific figures, and next steps earn a solid 85. - Hype 15 of 100, lower is better. Measured language, no clickbait; hype score low. Scored by MediaBias News; method at https://mediabias.news/methodology. **The short version** - Donald Trump called Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Sunday to ask him to stop attacks on Russian oil refineries. - Trump cited concerns that the strikes are worsening global diesel shortages and increasing prices, according to the Financial Times. - The International Energy Agency estimates Russia has approximately 6.5 million barrels per day of refining capacity. - Global seaborne diesel/gasoil exports averaged 4.7 million barrels per day in the first eight months of 2026, a 10% decrease year-on-year. Donald Trump contacted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Sunday to urge him to halt drone and missile strikes on Russian oil refineries. The Financial Times reported the call, citing sources familiar with the conversation. Trump expressed concerns that these attacks are exacerbating global diesel shortages and driving up prices. A senior Ukrainian official on the call told the Financial Times that Trump's message was focused on "diesel, diesel... diesel." Another official stated that Trump wanted Russian fuel to continue flowing to the global market to help lower prices. The International Energy Agency estimates Russia has about 6.5 million barrels per day of refining capacity. Global seaborne diesel and gasoil exports averaged 4.7 million barrels per day in the first eight months of 2026, down 10% year-on-year. ## Disagreement on Trump's stated reasons The Financial Times reported that Trump's motivation was to ensure Russian oil reached global markets to alleviate rising prices. However, the Daily Mail reported Trump stated on Truth Social that Russia had "lost control" of its diesel industry after Ukrainian attacks and called for an end to the war, claiming 25,000 people were being killed monthly. ## What the coverage left out None of the centre- or right-rated reports mentioned the International Energy Agency's figure for Russia's refining capacity or the specific year-on-year decrease in global seaborne diesel/gasoil exports. ## Who covered it Shares of the 8 covering outlets with a published leaning rating: - Left: 0% (0) - Centre: 25% (2) - Right: 75% (6) 13 of 21 covering outlets carried no usable leaning rating and were excluded from those percentages. Coverage measured 2026-09-21T14:15:19.337872+00:00. **Coverage watch:** developing. Checked 5 times; 0 checks found a material change. Most recently checked 2026-09-21T14:30:16.758Z. ## How the sides framed it ### Left No separate framing summary. ### Centre - The centre-rated reports led with Donald Trump's call to Volodymyr Zelensky to halt attacks on Russian refineries. Both the Daily Mail and Live Mint highlighted the Financial Times' reporting on the conversation, including the specific phrase "diesel, diesel... diesel" used by Trump. Live Mint also detailed the US concern about the knock-on effect of reduced Russian refined petroleum products on the global market, particularly diesel, and mentioned the scale of Ukrainian drone attacks. ### Right - The right-rated reports focused on Donald Trump's statement that Russia had "lost control" of its diesel industry due to Ukrainian attacks. The Times of India and Daily Mail highlighted Trump's assertion of an "oil crisis" and his call for an end to the "ridiculous" Ukraine war. Interfax.ru and dagelijksestandaard.nl, citing the Financial Times, also reported Trump's request to Zelensky to stop attacking Russian refineries due to fears of exacerbating global diesel shortages and price increases. **Provisional coverage gap:** left. The watch is not closed, so this is not yet a settled blindspot finding. ## Factuality profile of the covering outlets These are published factuality ratings of the outlets, not a verdict on whether this story or its claims are true. - low: 3 - mixed: 5 - unknown: 13 ## Verification scope This page compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It is not a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true. ## Original reporting this was written from - [EADaily](https://eadaily.com/ru/news/2026/09/21/iran-vyhodit-bokom-trampa-prizyvayut-zapretit-eksport-dizelya-tot-kivaet-na-ukrainu) — Iran Goes Sideways: Trump Calls for a Ban on the Export of Diesel, It Nods on Ukraine. - [NewsFinale](https://newsfinale.com/news/trump-declares-an-oil-crisis-in-extraordinary-admission) — Trump Declares an Oil Crisis in Extraordinary Admission - [parapolitika.gr](https://parapolitika.gr/diethni/article/1794564/o-trab-piese-ton-zelenski-na-stamatisei-tis-epitheseis-sta-rosika-diulistiria-sto-epikedro-to-dizel) — Trump Pressed Zelensky to Stop Attacks on Russian Refineries - Diesel in Focus - [Documento](https://documentonews.gr/article/ft-trab-se-zelenski-stamata-tis-epitheseis-sta-diylistiria-afxanontai-oi-times) — FT: Trump to Zelensky - "Stop Attacking Refineries, Prices Are Rising" - [Nemos News Network](https://nemosnewsnetwork.com/trump-pushes-zelensky-to-halt-russia-refinery-attacks-amid-high-diesel) — Trump Pushes Zelensky To Halt Russia Refinery Attacks Amid High Diesel - [Times of India](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/russia-has-lost-control-trump-flags-diesel-crisis-calls-for-end-to-ridiculous-ukraine-war/articleshow/134389919.cms) — 'Russia has lost control': Trump flags diesel crisis, calls for end to 'ridiculous' Ukraine war - [dailymail.com](https://dailymail.com/news/article-16148305/trump-russia-oil-crisis-ukraine.html) — Trump declares OIL CRISIS in extraordinary admission - [Live Mint](https://livemint.com/news/world/diesel-diesel-diesel-why-is-trump-pressing-zelensky-over-russian-oil-attacks-us-fears-explained-11789991176605.html) — 'Diesel, diesel...diesel': Why is Trump pressing Zelensky over Russian oil attacks? US fears explained - [sigmalive.com](https://sigmalive.com/news/international/1330252/ft-pieseis-tramp-se-zelenski-ghia-na-stamatisei-na-plittei-rosika-diilistiria) — FT: Trump Pressures Zelensky to Stop Hitting Russian Refineries - [Unknown](https://janoubia.com/2026/09/21/%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AF%D9%8A%D8%B2%D9%84-%D9%8A%D8%B4%D8%B9%D9%84-%D8%AE%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%81%D8%A7%D9%8B-%D8%AC%D8%AF%D9%8A%D8%AF%D8%A7%D9%8B-%D8%AA%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%85%D8%A8-%D9%8A%D8%B6%D8%BA) — Diesel Fuel Sparks New Controversy: Trump Pressures Zelensky to Halt Attacks on Russian Refineries - [Marcus Oscarsson](https://marcusoscarsson.se/sluta-omedelbart-trump-pressar-zelenskyj) — Stop Immediately – Trump Pressures Zelensky - [Capital.gr](https://capital.gr/diethni/4018370/tramp-se-zelenski-stamatiste-na-plittete-rosika-diulistiria) — FT - Trump to Zelensky: Stop Hitting Russian Refineries - [Nieuws.nl](https://nieuws.nl/buitenland/ft-trump-wil-dat-oekraine-stopt-met-aanvallen-op-raffinaderijen) — FT: Trump Wants Ukraine to Stop Attacking Refineries - [dagelijksestandaard.nl](https://dagelijksestandaard.nl/nieuws/ft-trump-wil-dat-oekraine-stopt-met-aanvallen-op-raffinaderijen) — FT: Trump Wants Ukraine to Stop Attacking Refineries - [welingelichtekringen.nl](https://welingelichtekringen.nl/samenleving/ft-trump-wil-dat-oekraine-stopt-met-aanvallen-op-raffinaderijen) — FT: Trump Wants Ukraine to Stop Attacking Refineries - [ΑΘΗΝΑ 9,84](https://athina984.gr/2026/09/21/ft-o-tramp-askei-pieseis-ston-zelenski-na-stamatisei-na-plittei-rosika-diylistiria) — FT: Trump Pressures Zelensky to Stop Hitting Russian Refineries - [Business Daily](https://businessdaily.gr/diethni/233318_o-tramp-piezei-ton-zelenski-na-stamatisei-epitheseis-se-rosika-diylistiria) — Financial Times: Trump Pressures Zelensky over Russian Refineries - [Naftemporiki](https://naftemporiki.gr/kosmos/2164507/stamata-na-chtypas-rosika-diylistiria-oi-ft-apokalyptoyn-pieseis-tramp-ston-zelenski) — "Stop Hitting Russian Refineries": FT Reveals Trump Pressure on Zelensky - [Interfax.ru](https://interfax.ru/world/1117472) — FT Learned of Trump's Call to Zelensky Not to Hit Russian NHPs. - [Zero Hedge](https://zerohedge.com/energy/trump-pushes-zelensky-halt-russia-refinery-attacks-amid-high-diesel) — Trump Pushes Zelensky To Halt Russia Refinery Attacks Amid High Diesel - [oreanda-news.com](https://oreanda-news.com/gosudarstvo/politic1/tramp-potreboval-ot-zelenskogo-prekratit-ataki-na-rossiyskie-npz/article1601185) — Trump Demanded that Zelensky Stop Attacking Russian NHPs. ## Questions **Why did Donald Trump call Volodymyr Zelensky?** Donald Trump called Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to urge him to stop drone and missile attacks on Russian oil refineries. He expressed concerns that these attacks are worsening global diesel shortages and driving up prices. **What did Trump say about Russia's oil industry?** According to the Daily Mail, Trump stated on Truth Social that Russia had "lost control" of its diesel industry due to Ukrainian attacks. He also called for an end to the war, claiming significant monthly casualties. **What is Russia's refining capacity?** The International Energy Agency estimates that Russia has approximately 6.5 million barrels per day of refining capacity. Russian refinery throughput has reportedly been reduced by almost 30 per cent year-on-year due to strikes. --- MediaBias News — https://mediabias.news. Reproduced from https://mediabias.news/business/trump-asked-zelensky-to-stop-attacks-on-russian-refineries. Please cite as: MediaBias News, "Trump asked Zelensky to stop attacks on Russian refineries", https://mediabias.news/business/trump-asked-zelensky-to-stop-attacks-on-russian-refineries