(KYIV) – US President Donald Trump has claimed that Russia has “lost control of its diesel oil industry” following a series of long-range Ukrainian strikes on Kremlin energy infrastructure. His comments, posted on his Truth Social platform, come after a weekend of heavy reciprocal strikes between Moscow and Kyiv.
The American leader’s intervention follows reports of rising fuel prices, particularly diesel, in the United States. In recent days, President Trump had increased pressure on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to halt strikes on Russian oil refineries. His latest statement, however, focused on the damage to Russia’s energy sector. “Russia has unfortunately lost control of its diesel oil industry due to its war with Ukraine,” Trump wrote. “A large number of their diesel refineries have been blown up and are at least temporarily out of commission. This ridiculous and never-ending war with Ukraine must be ended.”
The Ukrainian reaction to Trump’s post has been one of relief, according to a correspondent in Ukraine. The shift in the US president’s focus away from pressuring Kyiv is seen as a positive development. The weekend’s hostilities saw Russia conduct deadly overnight attacks across Ukraine, while Kyiv launched its own significant strikes.
One of Ukraine’s largest attacks of the war to date targeted Moscow, with Russian authorities reporting that more than 1,600 drones were launched towards the capital. A major oil refinery in Moscow was hit, forcing a halt to its operations as repairs are undertaken. The Ukrainian president confirmed that a new “Pelican” drone was used in the attack.
While Ukraine celebrates its strategic successes, it continues to suffer significant civilian casualties. Over the last 24 hours, six people were killed and 38 injured as Russia struck a shopping mall in Zaporizhzhia. This follows a pattern of Russian attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure, with three steel plants targeted in the last month alone. Moscow is waging an economic war aimed at grinding Ukraine’s steel industry to a halt, a sector vital for both the country’s defence and post-war reconstruction.
In response to these ongoing threats, Ukraine is exploring ways to protect its assets. At the recent Carpathian 8 summit, Ukraine’s state-owned oil and gas giant, Naftogaz, signed a memorandum with the Hungarian government. The agreement could see the construction of oil and gas reserves inside Hungarian territory, which would be protected by NATO’s Article 5.
In Russia, the results of the latest parliamentary elections have been declared, with Vladimir Putin’s United Russia party claiming a landslide victory. The vote, described by international observers as a sham, further entrenches the Russian dictator’s position. According to Russia’s Central Election Commission, United Russia won almost 58 per cent of the vote, securing 355 of the 450 seats in the State Duma. The Kremlin presented the outcome as a proof of national unity. However, the only registered party openly opposed to the war, Yabloko, was barred from the nationwide vote, and international monitors were notably absent.
Moscow also organised elections in the occupied territories of Ukraine, where footage showed armed personnel inside polling stations. The European Union has stated it will never recognise these votes. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas has proposed measures against those who facilitated what she called “sham elections.” In a contrasting scene, thousands of Russians queued outside their embassy in Yerevan, Armenia, to vote. According to independent exit polls, Putin’s party took barely 2 per cent of the vote there.
Security remains a top priority for European nations, with NATO allies Canada and Norway strengthening defence cooperation in the Arctic region. This comes as Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk and French President Emmanuel Macron warned of Russia’s intention to escalate its attacks against NATO. Military analysts suggest a full-scale invasion of a NATO member state is unlikely, but Russia can be expected to test the alliance’s resolve through sabotage, disinformation campaigns and provocations.
However, allied unity has been undermined by Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, who declared he will not honour NATO’s Article 5 collective defence clause. His comments drew sharp criticism from Czech President Petr Pavel, who stated that if allies fail to fulfil their obligations, they cannot expect solidarity in return. Fico’s remarks are widely seen as an attempt to appeal to anti-systemic voters ahead of upcoming elections in Slovakia.
In Poland, car manufacturing is going electric. Electromobility Poland, a state-owned company, has partnered with Taiwanese tech giant Foxconn to build the country’s first electric car factory in Jaworzno. The 1 billion euro ($1.1 billion / £850 million) project aims to produce 450,000 cars per year, with the first vehicle expected to roll out in 2029.
In Germany, regional elections have left Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s CDU party scrambling to contain the political fallout after major gains for the far-right AfD and the left party. The results have intensified pressure on the ruling government, with the AfD demanding a greater role in national politics. In Berlin, the far-left party surged into first place, a result with no precedent. Chancellor Merz has vowed not to step down and has promised reforms.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is calling for deeper integration of foreigners into Italian society. Her government has proposed a ban on face coverings in schools and a cap on the number of foreign students per class. The proposed full veil ban follows a long push by Italy’s ruling centre-right coalition. Meloni is also advocating for parents who face serious difficulties integrating to attend Italian lessons.
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