# US policy shifts regarding Ukraine conflict

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/us-policy-shifts-regarding-ukraine-conflict
> Updated: 2026-09-13T00:00:00.000Z. Sources: 112. Developments: 2.

Donald Trump has taken positions regarding U.S. involvement and policy in the Ukraine conflict. He announced his intention to demand that European nations reimburse the United States for military aid provided to Ukraine under the Biden administration, asserting that hundreds of billions of dollars were given to Ukraine and NATO for free.

While addressing ammunition concerns, Trump denied reports of shortages, stating the U.S. possesses “practically unlimited quantities of medium-to-high quality ammunition.”

During a visit to his golf club in Doonbeg, Ireland, Trump urged President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to halt Ukrainian drone strikes against Russian diesel fuel infrastructure, arguing these attacks contribute to a global diesel shortage that is “hurting the world.” Trump noted that the fuel crisis is driven by the conflict between Russia and Ukraine rather than Middle Eastern tensions. This request follows reports from Ukrainian intelligence regarding a successful strike on the Slaviansk-ECO refinery in Russia's Krasnodar region. While Ukrainian officials maintain that targeting Russia's energy sector is a legitimate tactic to disrupt invasion funding, the drone campaign has reportedly led to fuel rationing within Russia and caused Russia to lower its oil production forecast to a 17-year low. In the U.S., diesel prices recently surpassed $6 per gallon for the first time.

The conflict has seen an escalation in retaliatory strikes. In Russia's Tatarstan region, a drone strike near Nizhnekamsk resulted in the deaths of two civilians and left 14 others injured. Simultaneously, Ukrainian authorities reported Russian drone attacks targeting the Black Sea port of Odesa and infrastructure near the Polish border. In a massive exchange of drone warfare, Russia's Ministry of Defense claimed to have intercepted 389 Ukrainian drones in a single night, while the Ukrainian Air Force reported shooting down or suppressing 409 Russian drones.

## Claims

- Trump claimed that Ukrainian strikes on Russian diesel reserves are causing global fuel shortages. (corroborated by 38 sources)
- Donald Trump requested that Volodymyr Zelensky stop targeting Russian diesel fuel infrastructure. (corroborated by 36 sources)
- The average diesel price in the U.S. exceeded $6 per gallon for the first time. (corroborated by 7 sources)
- A Ukrainian drone strike in Nizhnekamsk, Tatarstan, killed two civilians. (corroborated by 7 sources)
- Ukrainian forces attacked the Slaviansk-ECO refinery in the Krasnodar region. (corroborated by 6 sources)
- Ukrainian drone strikes have led to fuel rationing within Russia. (corroborated by 6 sources)
- Trump expects the conflict with Iran to end around or shortly after the U.S. midterm elections in November. (corroborated by 6 sources)
- Russia has lowered its oil production forecast for the year to its lowest level in 17 years. (corroborated by 5 sources)
- Russian drone attacks targeted the Black Sea port of Odesa. (corroborated by 4 sources)
- Trump predicted that the end of the Iran conflict would cause gasoline prices to drop significantly. (corroborated by 4 sources)

## Timeline

### 2026-09-13: Donald Trump urges Zelenskyy to halt strikes on Russian diesel refineries

Donald Trump has urged President Zelenskyy to stop attacking Russian diesel refineries, claiming the strikes cause global fuel shortages and harm the world economy.

108 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/trump-urges-zelenskyy-to-halt-strikes-on-russian-diesel-fuel

### 2026-09-05: Donald Trump demands European reimbursement for Ukraine military aid

Donald Trump announced plans to demand that European nations reimburse the U.S. for military aid sent to Ukraine, while also denying reports of U.S. ammunition shortages.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/donald-trump-demands-european-reimbursement-for-ukraine-military-aid

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Cite as: US policy shifts regarding Ukraine conflict. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/us-policy-shifts-regarding-ukraine-conflict