U.S. President Donald Trump has publicly expressed his frustration with Russian President Vladimir Putin amid a series of Ukrainian drone strikes targeting critical Russian oil facilities. Speaking at a joint press conference with U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Trump said Putin had “really let me down” in the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine. The strikes have severely disrupted Russian oil infrastructure, a crucial source of revenue for the Kremlin’s war effort.
President Trump at a joint press conference with U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer
Trump Voices Sharp Disappointment in Putin over Ukraine War
Trump remarked that his relationship with Putin had led him to expect a swift resolution to the war in Ukraine. “The one that I thought would be the easiest (to end) was because of my relationship with President Putin. But he’s let me down. He’s really let me down,” Trump stated on September 18. Despite his disappointment, he remains hopeful for positive developments in ending the conflict.
The U.S. president reiterated his stance that allies must stop purchasing Russian oil if there is to be any meaningful pressure on Putin to cease hostilities. “Very simply, if the price of oil comes down, Putin is going to drop out. He’s going to have no choice. He’s going to drop out of that war,” Trump said. His administration has advocated for sanctions and tariffs against countries like China and India, which are among the main buyers of Russian oil.
Disrupted: Ukrainian Drones Target Key Russian Oil Facilities
Since last year, Ukrainian forces have intensified drone attacks on Russian oil refineries and export ports. These strikes aim to reduce the Kremlin’s war financing and ability to sustain military operations. According to multiple industry sources, these attacks have forced output cuts due to damage to critical infrastructure.
Recent drone strikes have targeted the Primorsk oil-loading port near St. Petersburg, halting operations temporarily. The Kirishi refinery in Leningrad Oblast, one of Russia’s largest with an annual capacity of 60 million tons, also sustained damage. Ukrainian military intelligence confirmed Kirishi had been targeted more than once, with previous strikes impacting production.
The Russian state-owned pipeline monopoly, Transneft, which handles over 80 percent of Russia’s crude output, warned that further damage might force reductions in oil shipments. Since these attacks began, Russia’s refining capacity has reportedly decreased by nearly 20 percent at one point.
🔥🛢️ Russia’s oil empire is crumbling under sanctions & unprecedented drone attacks.
🧵1/25 pic.twitter.com/uhGhRw758m
— 𝐀𝐧𝐧𝐚 𝐊𝐎𝐌𝐒𝐀 | 🇪🇺🇫🇷🇵🇱🇺🇦 (@tweet4Anna_NAFO) September 18, 2025
Oil Crisis: Russia Faces Output Cuts as Drone Strikes Escalate
Russian oil and gas revenues constitute between one-third and one-half of the federal budget. Despite heavy sanctions and disruptions, Russia has redirected supplies to Asian buyers, allowing some continuation of exports. However, repeated drone strikes have caused shutdowns and fuel shortages domestically.
The ongoing attacks represent a significant blow to Russia’s energy sector amid a three-year conflict with Ukraine. They serve as part of Ukraine’s broader strategy to undermine Moscow’s financial base supporting the war.
Trump Keeps Pressure on Putin amid Escalating Ukraine Conflict
Though Trump has expressed frustration, significant new sanctions against Moscow remain contingent on broader allied cooperation. The U.S. has sought to increase tariffs on Russian oil imports through allies and push for a diplomatic end to the conflict.
Washington also approved new arms packages for Ukraine funded by European partners. This forms part of the Prioritised Ukraine Requirements List (PURL), a system designed to meet Kyiv’s urgent military needs.
Trump acknowledged the human cost of the conflict. He noted that Ukraine and Russia lose approximately 7,000 soldiers weekly, describing it as a “horrible waste of humanity.” His administration has warned of “serious consequences” to Russia if a peace agreement is not reached soon.
Putin earlier claimed Russia is now immune to Western Sanctions
International Reactions and Security Developments
The war has triggered military preparedness by NATO and the actors in the region. In the recent past, the Russian and Belarusian armies began carrying out joint military exercises along the borders of NATO, which has cast doubt over their security. In another incident, Russian drones had breached the airspace of Poland, which is an unprecedented incident that caused a NATO response.
Denmark also declared that it would purchase a large consignment of arms worth $9 billion to strengthen its air defence system as a result of the increased stress levels in Europe due to the ongoing war.
Diplomatic Fallout: Trump Calls for Allies to Back Oil Sanctions
The fact that Donald Trump is disappointed publicly with Vladimir Putin highlights the intricacies of solving a conflict in Ukraine. The Ukrainian drone attacks are still ongoing on key energy infrastructure in Russia, and this is crippling the funding of the war in Moscow. It is also quite unstable as international players put more pressure on Russia by imposing economic sanctions and military aid to Ukraine.
The culmination of these tensions will have an effect on the energy supply and geopolitical stability in the months to come as oil markets all over the world keep a keen eye on them. The repeated emphasis by Trump on the need to cooperate with allies to force Putin into peace indicates the current strains and difficulties on the diplomatic and strategic fronts in the area.
