On Sunday, President Trump requested that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stop military strikes on Russian refineries. He mentioned that these attacks are leading to a diesel shortage. Trump made these comments while in Ireland, watching the Irish Open golf tournament hosted at one of his own courses.
Trump was asked by reporters if he had discussed these concerns with Zelenskyy after a recent conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin. He responded by urging Zelenskyy to target other locations but spare the diesel fuel facilities to prevent causing shortages.
Ukraine has conducted long-range strikes targeting Russia’s oil and gas industry. Kyiv claims these resources finance and fuel Russia’s war efforts against Ukraine. The plea from Trump came amid ongoing drone attacks between Russia and Ukraine.
In Russia’s Tatarstan, drone attacks resulted in two fatalities, as reported by local officials. Moscow continued its air campaign, targeting Ukraine’s power grid with ballistic missiles and drones, aiming to demoralize civilians ahead of winter. The attacks damaged residential buildings and utilities, notably in Odesa and surrounding areas.
On Sunday, Ukrainian drones hit Nizhnekamsk in Tatarstan, resulting in two deaths and 14 injuries when a drone impacted a tree near a parked car. Nizhnekamsk hosts vital oil and petrochemical facilities. A fire was reported at one of the city’s enterprises, although details were scarce.
The Ukrainian drone offensive led to fuel rationing across Russia, despite the nation being a prominent oil and gas exporter. Ukraine also struck Sloviansk-on-Kuban’s major oil refinery in Russia’s Krasnodar region, igniting a massive blaze visible from kilometers away.
Krasnodar authorities reported injuries, pipeline damage, and fires following the strike but did not directly address Ukraine’s claims. Russia’s defense ministry stated that 389 Ukrainian drones were shot down, including in Tatarstan and Crimea.
On Sunday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov expressed openness to resuming peace talks involving Russia, Ukraine, and the U.S. in October. Despite diplomatic efforts, key demands from Moscow and Kyiv remain at odds, especially regarding territory.
U.S. envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff engaged in talks with Putin followed by discussions in Kyiv. Kushner emphasized that territory remains a contentious issue and a creative solution is needed to satisfy both parties without violating Ukraine’s objectives.