Trump says high diesel costs stem from ‘ridiculous’ Ukraine war
by Tom Howell Jr. · The Washington TimesPresident Trump said Monday that record-high diesel costs should be a catalyst to end the war between Russia and Ukraine.
Mr. Trump, posting on social media, pointed to Ukrainian attacks on Russian refineries as the key driver of record-high diesel costs.
“Russia has unfortunately lost control of its Diesel Oil Industry due to its War with Ukraine. A large number of their Diesel refineries have been blown up and are, at least temporarily, out of commission,” Mr. Trump posted on Truth Social. “This ridiculous and never ending War with Ukraine must be ended.”
The president pushed for a conclusion to the war as he prepares to address major nations at the U.N. General Assembly in New York on Tuesday.
He will address the U.N. as Russia causes new angst in Europe: Some Western countries fear Russian President Vladimir Putin will attack beyond Ukraine to test the NATO alliance.
Meanwhile, Mr. Trump faces concerns about the cost of living and high gas prices back home.
The U.S. average price of gasoline reached $4.48 per gallon on Monday, up from $3.18 this time last year, according to the AAA motor club.
Diesel hit another record high on Monday, at a U.S. average of $6.51 per gallon. Freight transport uses diesel, so the cost could ripple across the economy.
Advertisement Advertisement
Analysts said the diesel problem is multi-faceted and driven by two global conflicts.
Mr. Trump launched military strikes against Iran on Feb. 28, and Tehran retaliated by disrupting oil shipments in the Strait of Hormuz and striking pipelines and refineries across the Middle East.
Meanwhile, Ukraine is striking Russian refineries as it tries to fend off an unprovoked invasion that began in February 2022.
In the last week, “diesel rose in every state, with five states seeing increases exceeding 50 cents per gallon, as continued strikes on Russian oil refineries tighten global diesel supply — a pressure further amplified in the Great Lakes by regional refinery issues,” Patrick de Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, wrote in a Monday blog post. “Any broader directional change will depend heavily on overseas developments, and with new Houthi attacks and fresh U.S.-Iran escalations, the outlook remains deeply uncertain.”
Mr. Trump says oil and gas prices will plummet once he settles the war in Iran. He said that might occur after the midterm elections.
Advertisement Advertisement
Mr. Trump is also pushing to wind down the Russia-Ukraine war. He said the war started under President Joseph R. Biden, causing gasoline prices to skyrocket to record highs in mid-2022 before receding.
“Gas prices were much higher under Biden than under ’TRUMP.’ So were almost all other prices,” Mr. Trump posted Monday on social media.
The president said he thought ending the Ukraine war would be a simpler task when he took office, though he remains hopeful of a resolution. Critics have pushed him to take a harder line on Moscow and be clearer in assigning blame to the Kremlin for the invasion.
Mr. Trump recently signed a bill that would crack down on Russia’s ability to raise revenue. The measure allows him to impose stiff tariffs on any country that buys oil or gas from Russia.
Advertisement Advertisement
“The whole World suffers as 25,000 people, mostly soldiers, are being killed each month,” Mr. Trump posted on social media. “What a shame!”
Contact the author
Tom Howell Jr.
Follow author updates Follow Click to follow. Manage followed authors