President Trump called on Ukrainian leadership to halt long-range drone strikes targeting Russian refineries, warning that the ongoing attacks are causing a global shortage of diesel fuel. Speaking to reporters on Sunday from Ireland, where he was attending the Irish Open at one of his golf courses, Trump addressed his recent communications with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Trump stated that while Ukraine can target other sites, it must stop hitting diesel production in Russia. Kyiv has consistently defended its campaign against Russian energy infrastructure, arguing that the sector directly funds and fuels Moscow’s ongoing military invasion. The remarks coincide with a persistent escalation in overnight drone strikes and air campaigns by both warring nations. Local officials in Russia’s Tatarstan region reported that two civilians were killed when a drone struck a tree near their parked vehicle in Nizhnekamsk, a major industrial hub housing critical oil refineries and petrochemical plants. Mayor Radmir Belyaev confirmed that a fire broke out at a local enterprise following the strike. Meanwhile, Ukrainian authorities reported heavy Russian drone assaults targeting the critical Black Sea port of Odesa and infrastructure near the Polish border. Moscow has intensified its aerial campaigns in recent weeks, utilizing ballistic missiles and jet-powered drones to exploit dwindling Ukrainian interceptor stocks and undermine civilian morale ahead of winter. The Ukrainian Defense Intelligence agency also claimed responsibility for an overnight drone strike against a major oil refinery in Sloviansk-on-Kuban within Russia’s Krasnodar region, which damaged an oil pipeline and sparked a massive blaze. Krasnodar authorities reported three injuries from the incident. The Russian defense ministry claimed its forces intercepted and shot down 389 Ukrainian drones overnight across various regions and occupied Crimea. Amid the intensifying combat, diplomatic channels remain active. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov announced that Moscow is open to potential peace talks involving Russia, Ukraine, and the United States as early as October. However, core demands regarding territorial control remain fundamentally opposed. U.S. envoy Jared Kushner, who recently held separate discussions with Putin in Moscow and Zelenskyy in Kyiv, acknowledged that territory remains the primary obstacle to a lasting settlement, emphasizing that mediators are working toward a creative framework to resolve the conflict.
Source: cbsnews.com
