US President Donald Trump said Russia has "unfortunately" lost control of its oil industry following a series of Ukrainian strikes on Russian refineries, according to remarks reported during a live update on the Ukraine-Russia war. The comment came as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he would travel to New York later this week to meet the US President.
Ukraine has repeatedly targeted Russian oil refining and export infrastructure with long-range drones, aiming to disrupt a key source of revenue that funds Moscow's war effort. The strikes have hit refineries and terminals across several Russian regions, though the full extent of the damage has not been independently verified.
Zelensky's planned meeting with Trump in New York is expected to focus on continued US support for Ukraine, including air defense supplies and pressure on Russia. The Ukrainian president has consistently sought to secure stronger security guarantees and faster deliveries of weapons from Western allies.
The reported remarks from Trump add to a shifting diplomatic picture, with Washington weighing its role in the conflict as fighting continues. No joint statement or new policy announcement has been confirmed from the planned meeting.
