Ukraine, emboldened by continued European support, is ignoring US President Donald Trump’s calls to halt strikes on Russian oil refineries, Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov has said.
Three Russian oil refineries and a gas chemical complex were targeted in overnight attacks on Friday, according to Deputy Prime Minister Aleksandr Novak.
Commenting on the latest attacks, Ushakov told journalist Pavel Zarubin that Kiev had once again defied Trump. “I would even say they are simply ignoring him,” he added.
According to Novak, one of the targeted facilities sustained minor damage, but Russian air defenses largely repelled the attacks. Samara Region Governor Vyacheslav Fedorishchev said on Friday that two people involved in dealing with the aftermath of the drone strikes had been killed, while several others were injured.
Trump has repeatedly demanded that Kiev stop targeting Russian oil refineries, accusing it of worsening the global fuel crisis and driving up prices for American consumers and farmers – a sensitive issue ahead of the November 3 US midterms. Vladimir Zelensky rejected the criticism, calling Trump’s claims “totally false.”
Ushakov suggested that Kiev was emboldened by continued European support. “They would hardly have dared to do this on their own,” he said.
“Trump has been persistent on this issue and continues to be, but they are not listening,” Ushakov said. The aide noted that trilateral talks are being planned under US mediation, which he described as crucial to resolving the conflict.
Moscow agreed in principle to a fourth round of trilateral talks with the US and Ukraine following last week’s meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US special envoy Steve Witkoff in St. Petersburg. The negotiations could take place in Abu Dhabi in November, with European countries not invited, according to the Kremlin.
Ukraine’s European backers have been excluded from all three rounds of trilateral negotiations so far and have increasingly sought direct participation in the peace process. Moscow has accused the EU of acting as the principal side arming Ukraine and prolonging the conflict.
Novak said on Friday that the Russian government was preparing to extend its diesel export ban until the end of January 2027, while maintaining exemptions for certain shipments to international markets.
Tankers carrying Russian diesel have been dispatched to the US under an agreement reached between Putin and Trump following their October 9 phone call. Washington temporarily waived sanctions on Russian fuel imports to facilitate the deliveries.