Trump says he asked Zelensky to ease strikes on Russian oil refineries, with Zelensky saying Ukraine may take a softer approach.
US President Donald Trump © Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images
US President Donald Trump said he asked Vladimir Zelensky to ease Ukraine strikes on Russian refineries, saying that the Ukrainian leader indicated Ukraine might reduce such attacks. The remarks came while Trump was responding to a Fox News correspondent about the situation surrounding the US diesel fuel exports ban.
According to Trump, he directly raised the issue with Zelensky and asked him to take a less aggressive approach toward Russia’s fuel infrastructure. The comments were reported by The Times of Russia on September 28.
Trump Asks Zelensky to Ease Russian Oil Refinery Strikes
Speaking about the situation, Trump said he had told Zelensky that Ukraine needed to “take it easier” when targeting Russian oil refineries.
Trump said: “I spoke to… Zelensky. I said, ‘You got to take it easier in the refineries [in Russia].’ He said, ‘Well, we’ll probably do that’.”
The statement indicates that Trump asked the Ukrainian president to reduce the intensity of attacks against Russia’s refinery infrastructure. Zelensky, according to Trump’s account, responded that Ukraine would probably do so.
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Zelensky’s Response to Trump
The comments were made in response to a question from a Fox News correspondent concerning the US diesel fuel exports situation. Trump connected his remarks to his conversation with Zelensky and his request regarding attacks on Russia’s energy infrastructure.
The focus of the exchange was on oil refinery strikes and their impact on Russia’s fuel and energy sector.
Trump’s account specifically referred to his request that Zelensky “take it easier” regarding attacks on refineries inside Russia. Zelensky’s reported response was that Ukraine would “probably” take such an approach.
Ukraine Strikes on Russian Refineries
The remarks come amid continued attention on Ukraine strikes on Russian refineries and attacks targeting Russia’s fuel infrastructure. Trump’s comments specifically addressed the issue of strikes against refineries and his request to Zelensky to ease them.
The discussion also comes in the context of the situation involving US diesel fuel exports, which prompted the Fox News question to Trump.
The US president did not provide additional details in the quoted exchange about how or when Ukraine might change its approach to attacks against Russian oil refineries.
For now, Trump’s statement represents his account of his conversation with Vladimir Zelensky, including his request for Ukraine to ease refinery strikes and Zelensky’s reported response.
Trump and Zelensky Discuss Russian Refinery Strikes
The comments highlight the issue of Russian fuel infrastructure in the wider discussion surrounding the conflict between Ukraine and Russia. Trump said his demand to Zelensky was specifically related to attacks on refineries in Russia.
According to Trump, Zelensky indicated that Ukraine might comply with the request.
The Times of Russia reported the remarks on September 28, with Trump’s comments providing the basis for the account of the conversation between the two leaders.
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