Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is meeting President Trump on the UNGA sidelines Tuesday to push for a reciprocal pause in strikes on energy and critical infrastructure before winter, as U.S. diesel prices and Trump’s midterm politics intensify pressure on Kyiv’s campaign against Russian refineries.

Trump wrote Monday that Russia has “lost control” of its diesel oil industry because of the Ukraine war and that the “ridiculous and never ending” conflict must end, citing tens of thousands of monthly deaths. CNBC reported U.S. retail diesel above $6.50 a gallon for the first time, with Iran-war Hormuz constraints and Ukraine-related supply shocks both cited. Trump last week claimed the sides had agreed not to hit energy targets; that semblance collapsed within a day when Russia struck Kyiv petrol stations and Ukraine hit a Russian refinery. On Sunday a Ukrainian drone attack damaged a Moscow-area refinery during Russia’s tightly controlled parliamentary vote, killing three people according to reports.

Zelenskyy, after a Sunday call with Trump, spoke of “diplomatic momentum” and “ideas for de-escalation,” writing that Ukraine’s energy sector, critical infrastructure, and food exports must stop being Russian targets, which would lead to matching Ukrainian steps. “Solutions are possible,” he said. A person familiar with talks told Reuters Trump asked Zelenskyy to stop refinery attacks as part of broader de-escalation; Kyiv is loath to pause unilaterally, seeing refinery damage as leverage. Russia has not signaled a matching energy pause and has spoken of massive strikes on Ukraine’s grid. Zelenskyy also wants discussion of U.S.-made Patriot missiles for winter air defense if Moscow will not de-escalate.

Street-level skepticism in Kyiv, quoted by Reuters, doubts Putin would stop hitting civilians. Coverage agrees the leaders are meeting and energy infrastructure is central; conflict is reciprocity—Trump’s pressure has focused heavily on Ukrainian strikes, while Kyiv insists any truce must bind Russia first.