Trump pressures Ukraine on oil strikes to boost Republicans before midterms

Ahead of the midterm elections, President Donald Trump is pressuring Ukraine to stop striking Russian oil infrastructure, a move critics call criminal, aiming to aid Republican candidates struggling with high fuel prices. Trump has blamed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for diesel costs and threatened to withhold intelligence if Kyiv continues attacks on Russian refineries. He also announced a deal with Moscow to import Russian diesel, drawing criticism from Republicans and European allies like Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. Experts say the proposed Russian diesel imports would have minimal impact on U.S. fuel prices, with estimates ranging from zero to five cents per gallon. Critics, including former officials, accuse Trump of abandoning foreign policy and using government authority for political gain.