måndag 21 september 2026
Trump concerned about diesel prices – pressures Ukraine
US President Donald Trump continues to pressure Ukraine to halt its counter-attacks on Russian oil refineries. This comes ahead of a meeting in New York with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Trump is concerned that diesel prices are being driven up by Russia's war against Ukraine.
"Unfortunately, Russia has lost control of its diesel industry due to its war against Ukraine. A large number of their diesel refineries have been blown up and are, at least temporarily, out of commission," Trump wrote on Truth Social on Monday.
In a conversation with Zelenskyy on Sunday, Trump asked the Ukrainian president to stop attacks on Russian oil refineries, the Financial Times reports, citing sources familiar with the call. Trump issued the same appeal to Ukraine during a press conference a few weeks ago.
The president has recently begun claiming that high fuel prices are primarily linked to the war in Ukraine, rather than the war against Iran—which he himself initiated alongside Israel—that has led to blocked oil and gas shipments in the critical Strait of Hormuz.
Responding to Trump's post on Monday, Zelenskyy wrote that a "dialogue with President Trump and the USA" is underway. "Ukraine’s energy sector, critical infrastructure, and food exports must cease to be targets for Russia, which would lead to a corresponding de-escalation on our part. Solutions are possible," the Ukrainian president writes on X.
He adds that the issue will be discussed with Ukraine’s allies during the UN General Assembly in New York this week.
Zelenskyy is expected to meet Trump there on Tuesday afternoon, local time, according to a source speaking to AFP.
US-China Relations
Analysis: Households and businesses to foot the bill for the power struggle
China’s massive export surplus is partly the result of weak domestic demand, as Xi Jinping prioritizes industrial dominance over increased consumption. This is according to Viktor Munkhammar of *Dagens Industri* (DI), writing ahead of this week’s summit between Presidents Trump and Xi.
At the same time, a mounting mountain of debt limits the scope for economic stimulus. "The most likely scenario is that things will continue on the same trajectory as in recent years: the rest of the world provides the demand, overcapacity persists, and debt continues to accumulate," Munkhammar writes.
However, while China relies on demand from the rest of the world, that demand is becoming increasingly unreliable, according to Sebastian Contin Trillo-Figueroa of *Nikkei Asia*. The US, the EU, and China are attempting to enforce their own conflicting rules for global companies, which are forced to adapt their supply chains, technology, and data handling to meet these divergent requirements. "The companies trying to satisfy everyone at once don't have a seat at the table—they just get to foot the bill," he writes.
Bessent: Successful talks with China on AI
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent says the US has held "very successful" talks with China regarding AI and trade, Bloomberg reports. He held a lengthy discussion with Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng ahead of President Xi Jinping’s visit to Washington this week.
Among other topics, they discussed the risks associated with artificial intelligence. The US has proposed that the two nations share information with each other regarding safety incidents.
"Greater transparency between the world’s leading and second-leading AI powers is crucial," says Bessent.
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