Five European countries and EU Commission coordinate response to US demand for diesel reserves
Five European countries and the European Commission agreed on a joint position after an emergency meeting on October 1 in response to the Trump administration's demand to release strategic diesel reserves. The US is threatening a possible ban on diesel exports to Europe. Participants agreed to respond to Washington in a coordinated manner and to handle any decisions on strategic reserves through the International Energy Agency, with a broader discussion to continue on October 2 at the EU energy working group level.
Key points
- Emergency meeting on October 1 brought together the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Ireland, and the European Commission.
- The Trump administration primarily demanded that France and Germany reduce emergency diesel reserves; Washington wants the EU to release 120 million barrels over six months.
- If refused, the US may consider banning diesel exports to Europe.
- Participants agreed to coordinate their response to Washington and to handle any reserve decisions through the International Energy Agency.
- A broader discussion is to continue on October 2 at the EU energy working group, which includes the European Commission and all 27 member states.
- Trump blamed Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil refineries for the diesel supply shortfall; Kyiv has not publicly confirmed his claim that Zelensky agreed to 'slow down' such strikes.
- Diesel prices in the UK hit a record this week, with one liter trading at nearly 200 pence (about 119.3 hryvnias).
Why it matters
The dispute exposes a transatlantic energy conflict between the US and its European allies over strategic fuel reserves at a moment when diesel prices in Europe have already hit records. The US threat to ban diesel exports to Europe could further squeeze supply and push prices higher, while Trump is publicly framing Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil refineries as a cause of Western energy pressure. European governments are choosing to coordinate through existing mechanisms such as the International Energy Agency rather than act individually under US pressure.
What happened
On October 1, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Ireland, and the European Commission held an emergency meeting to coordinate a joint position in response to a US Trump administration demand to release part of strategic diesel reserves. The US demand focused primarily on France and Germany, with Washington seeking the release of 120 million barrels of diesel over six months; if refused, the US may consider banning diesel exports to Europe. The participants agreed to respond to Washington in a coordinated manner and to make any decisions on the use of strategic fuel reserves at the level of the International Energy Agency. A broader discussion of the situation is scheduled to continue on October 2 at the EU energy working group, which includes the European Commission and all 27 member states. Separately, US Energy Secretary Chris Wright said the US expects Europe to take new steps to increase diesel supply, and US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent called on Europe to release part of its reserves so that American farmers, truckers, and businesses are not left alone with the burden. On September 30, Trump again pointed to the disabling of Russian oil refineries as a main factor in the reduction of diesel supply and claimed he had asked Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to slow down such strikes, with Zelensky allegedly agreeing — a claim Kyiv has not publicly confirmed.
Where reporting differs
Trump claims that Zelensky agreed to 'slow down' strikes on Russian oil refineries; Kyiv has not publicly confirmed any such agreement. Zelensky has stated readiness for mutual cessation of strikes on energy infrastructure only if Russia also stops corresponding attacks on Ukraine.
Background
European dependence on American fuel increased after Europe rejected Russian petroleum products following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, and after reduced Middle East supplies linked to the US-Israel war against Iran. Russia has been forced to extend restrictions on its own diesel exports to stabilize its domestic market, adding to global supply pressure. The US accounts for between 1.2 million and 1.5 million barrels of diesel per day on the world market. According to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Ukrainian strikes have disabled more than 45% of the design capacity of Russia's oil refining industry, and Zelensky has stated readiness for mutual cessation of strikes on energy infrastructure if Russia also stops corresponding attacks on Ukraine.