Trump Claims Energy Truce Between Russia and Ukraine Amid Continued Strikes

U.S. President Donald Trump claimed on September 14 that Russia and Ukraine had agreed to a mutual truce to stop striking each other's energy infrastructure. However, the claim was immediately contradicted by military actions. Overnight on September 15, Ukrainian drones and missiles struck the Syzran oil refinery in Russia's Samara region, as well as an Ozon warehouse and other facilities in Taganrog. Simultaneously, Russian forces carried out a strike on Kyiv that damaged two gas stations.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that Kyiv is ready for such an accord if Russia's cooperation can be ensured, but he expressed doubt that Russia would abide by an agreement. The Kremlin described the proposal as a very good idea but argued that a truce alone would not solve global fuel shortages. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated that resolving world market problems would require the lifting of sanctions on Russian energy exports and an end to Ukrainian attacks on oil tankers.

Trump linked the proposed truce to global diesel prices, asserting that the Russia Ukraine war, rather than U.S. conflict in Iran, is the primary cause of the price increases. Reports indicate that three of Russia's six largest diesel producing refineries have significantly cut or halted output following Ukrainian drone strikes. This includes the Kinef refinery, which has shut down completely, and the Volgograd and NORSI refineries, which are operating at about a quarter of their capacity.