Russia and Ukraine agree not to strike each other's energy facilities: Trump

Ukraine and Russia have agreed not to target each other's energy infrastructure, US President Donald Trump wrote in a post on his Truth Social account Sept. 14.

Commenting on Trump's statement, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Ukraine had proposed to its partners to secure an agreement with Russia to halt the destruction of critical infrastructure.

"If our partners can ensure a genuine commitment from Russia to refrain from striking our power grid, other energy facilities, critical infrastructure, and food supply routes, then we, of course, are prepared to reciprocate by refraining from strikes ourselves," Zelenskyy wrote in a Telegram post Sept. 14.

Zelenskyy added that the arrangement "must be reliable and long-lasting" and deliver "real benefits to people's lives, rather than collapsing once the Russians have held their 'elections' and secured a temporary easing of tensions regarding gasoline and diesel supplies."

"The war must end, and a de-escalation regarding critical infrastructure could serve as the first step toward peace," Ukraine's President wrote.

The Kremlin's press office and the Russian energy ministry were not immediately available for comment.

Trump earlier urged Zelenskyy to stop targeting diesel fuel infrastructure inside Russia, and suggested that Ukrainian strikes on Russian refineries had caused a global diesel shortage.

Zelenskyy "has to do one thing. He has to stop knocking out diesel fuel in Russia," Trump said Sept. 13 during a visit to his golf club in Doonbeg, Ireland.

Trump said he had already raised the issue directly with Zelenskyy, making clear that Washington does not want Ukraine to hit diesel refineries, even as it continues to support Kyiv's broader military effort.

"Let him go after targets, but not diesel fuel because he's causing a shortage of diesel. This isn't done by the Middle East. This is done by what's happening with Russia and Ukraine," Trump said, adding that Ukraine's actions in Russia were "hurting the world."

Ukraine has significantly intensified attacks on Russian refineries since March, triggering a major fuel crisis in Russia. Almost half of Russia's primary refining capacity was offline at the end of August, according to an assessment by S&P Global Energy CERA.

Russia banned diesel, marine fuel and gasoil exports for producers through the end of September, while non-producers are restricted from exporting these fuels through the end of January 2027. Prior to the ban, Russia was the second-largest exporter of diesel to global markets.

The physical Amsterdam-Rotterdam-Antwerp diesel crack hit a record of $98/b on Sept. 1. The crack was last assessed at $85.9/b on Sept. 11, well above the August average of $80.50/b, July's $71.71/b and June's $44.75/b, according to assessments from Platts, part of S&P Global Energy.

Russia's diesel export ban is only one of the reasons of the elevated crack, according to CERA analysts. The ongoing Middle East conflict, depleted stocks, refinery turnarounds and the harvest season are among the factors that have tightened global markets.

Zelenskyy said Sept. 14 that he plans to discuss issues regarding a maritime and energy truce with Trump in New York at the end of September, if the meeting takes place.

"If the Russians do not strike our energy system and our people have electricity, Ukraine will not retaliate in kind," Zelenskyy said at the Yalta European Strategy event in Kyiv Sept. 11, according to Interfax Ukraine.

Earlier Sept. 14, the Kremlin's Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov refused to answer when asked whether Russia was ready to stop targeting Ukraine's energy infrastructure to shield its refineries from attacks.