The Independent
· collected 2026-09-14 · by Alisha Rahaman Sarkar,James C. Reynolds and Rebecca Whittaker
Story summary
On September 14, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that Ukraine is ready to halt strikes on Russia if its partners ensure Moscow will refrain from hitting Ukrainian energy facilities and infrastructure. However, Zelenskyy expressed doubt about Russia's willingness to adhere to any agreement, emphasizing the need for a reliable long-term deal with real impact on people’s lives.
The day before, US President Donald Trump claimed that Ukraine and Russia had agreed not to hit each other's energy targets in an effort to mitigate rising global fuel prices. Zelenskyy later clarified that Ukraine was willing to reciprocate but needed assurances from "partners," likely referring to the U.S., that Russia would genuinely refrain from striking Ukrainian critical infrastructure.
Meanwhile, the Kremlin welcomed Trump’s call on Ukraine to halt strikes on Russian diesel facilities, with Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stating that any such call could be welcomed. However, he also noted that the upheaval in global energy markets was mainly due to conflicts in the Gulf region rather than the Russia-Ukraine war.
As tensions escalated and fuel prices soared past $6 per gallon, Trump's claims were met with skepticism from both Ukrainian and Russian sides, with no official confirmation of an agreement as of September 14.
Written for “Ukraine Russia Energy Strikes Trump” on 2026-09-14,
grounded in this article and the 31 other(s) covering the same event.
US President Donald Trump has said he is “open” to negotiations with Iran, but stressed the final decision rests with him.
asserted
decision → say → him
In a post on Truth Social he said: “The failing Nation of Iran wants to make a deal, quickly and badly.
asserted
Nation → say → deal
I will determine whether or not the U.S.A. will choose to engage - The concept of which we are open to.”
asserted
we → determine → which
It came after he insisted the steep rise in Diesel prices is a result of the war between Ukraine and Russia and not Iran.
asserted
rise → come → Iran
Oil and gas prices have climbed higher after Saudi Arabia shut down a vital oil pipeline in response to a series of drone attacks.
asserted
Arabia → climb → attacks
The price of a barrel of Brent crude oil increased by around 3% to 108 US dollars (£80) on Monday morning.
asserted
price → increase → morning
Oman announced late on Sunday that planned talks with Iran about the future of the Strait of Hormuz had been cancelled “in the interests of consensus”, scuppering hopes of a diplomatic breakthrough in the near term.
asserted
talks → announce → term
Iranian officials had said earlier that they would attend the gathering with Gulf Arab states to present an agreement with Oman on the future governing of shipping routes through the Strait, which carried about a fifth of global oil supplies before the war.
asserted
which → say → war
Trend of oil shipments through Strait of Hormuz rising, says US energy sec
The seven-day rolling average of covert oil shipments accompanied by the US Navy through the Strait of Hormuz is rising and will continue to rise, Donald Trump’s energy secretary Chris Wright said at a meeting of the UN nuclear watchdog on Monday.
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secretary → rise → Monday
"The trend in that seven-day rolling average has been going up and will continue to go up," he told a press conference, adding that a peak of 17 million barrels in one day he cited on Sept. 1 was in fact higher.
“There was one ship not counted.
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he → roll → fact
It turned out it was almost spot on 18 million barrels that day,” he claimed.
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he → turn → barrels
Analysis: Why are the Houthis escalating now?
Yemen’s Houthi rebels have ramped up attacks on Saudi Arabia and pushed west towards the Bab al-Mandab Strait.
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rebels → escalate → Strait
Being closer to the Red Sea will make it easier to launch strikes on Saudi oil tankers, which are reliant on the strait with the Strait of Hormuz out of action thanks to Iran.
asserted
which → make → Iran
Edmund Fitton-Brown, former British ambassador to Yemen, told The Independent that after months of attacks at sea, the Houthis “think the moment has come to call the Saudi bluff”.
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moment → tell → bluff
“They think the Saudis have lost the stomach for the fight.
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Saudis → think → fight
They think that they showed themselves to be weak and frightened in the face of the Iranians,” he said.
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he → think → Iranians
“And the Houthis think that this is the moment where they can effectively raise their demands and get the Saudis to concede even more advantageous terms than they were previously willing to do.”
asserted
they → think → terms
The risk for the Houthis, said Mr Fitton-Brown, is that the Saudis “seem inclined to fight back” - although so far their allies in Turkey, Pakistan and the United States are yet to join the cause.
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allies → say → cause
In pictures: before and after an attack on the Saudi Arabia East-West pipeline
Trump now blames 'Sleepy Joe Biden' for rising prices
US president Donald Trump has again dodged the blame for rising prices and claims they were caused by “Sleepy Joe Biden.”
uncertain
they → blame → Biden
He wrote in a post on Truth Social: “I hope everyone realizes that price increases throughout America were caused by Sleepy Joe Biden and the Biden Administration, not by ‘TRUMP.’
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increases → write → TRUMP
“Even Oil was higher under Biden than it is right now, and we prevented Iran from having a Nuclear Weapon!
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we → prevent → Weapon
“With the temporary exception of Oil, prices are coming down sharply, and Oil will drop like a rock as soon as the Military Conflict with Iran is over, and that will not be long.
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that → come → Iran
It comes as oil and gas prices have climbed higher after Saudi Arabia shut down a vital oil pipeline in response to a series of drone attacks.
asserted
Arabia → come → attacks
In a previous post he claimed the world’s Diesel prices have risen mostly due to the war between Russia and Ukraine and not due to war in Iran.
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prices → claim → Iran
Yemen’s Houthi rebels have forced a lightning offensive to the Red Sea coast, assuming control over another vital waterway in the region and threatening to expand the frozen US-Israeli conflict with Iran to the east.
asserted
rebels → force → east
By securing a position overlooking the narrow Bab el-Mandeb strait, the Iran-aligned group has opened a second pressure point, further squeezing Saudi Arabia’s oil exports already diverted from the Strait of Hormuz.
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group → secure → Hormuz
The sudden land grab over the last week has been accompanied by an aerial campaign against military instalments in southern Saudi Arabia, shifting the balance of power after more than a decade at war.
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grab → accompany → war
The Independent looks at what the Houthi advance means for regional stability:
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advance → look → stability
Yemen’s Houthi rebels have forced a lightning offensive to the Red Sea coast, assuming control over another vital waterway in the region and threatening to expand the frozen US-Israeli conflict with Iran to the east.
asserted
rebels → force → east
By securing a position overlooking the narrow Bab el-Mandeb strait, the Iran-aligned group has opened a second pressure point, further squeezing Saudi Arabia’s oil exports already diverted from the Strait of Hormuz.
asserted
group → secure → Hormuz
The sudden land grab over the last week has been accompanied by an aerial campaign against military installments in southern Saudi Arabia, shifting the balance of power after more than a decade at war.
The Independent looks at what the Houthi advance means for regional stability:
asserted
advance → accompany → stability
US pilot survived for two days behind enemy lines with broken back after Iran shot down plane: ‘It was terrifying’
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It → survive → plane
The American air force colonel whose fighter jet was downed over Iran in April has shared how survived for two days behind enemy lines with a broken back, arm and shoulder while waiting for help to arrive.
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help → down → back
‘Bravo’ was the weapons-system officer in a two-man crew flying over Iran on 3 April when their F-15E Strike Eagle was hit by Iranian fire.
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Eagle → fly → fire
The pilot in the front - ‘Alpha’ - ejected successfully, but Bravo came down in the mountains.
asserted
Bravo → eject → mountains
In his first public account of what happened, he told CBS News’ 60 Minutes how he free-fell to the ground at speeds of up to 100mph with a damaged parachute, torn up by an Iranian shoulder-fired missile.
asserted
he → happen → missile
Trump 'open' to negotiations with Iran again
US President Donald Trump has said the US is open to starting negotiations with Iran again.
asserted
US → say → Iran
In a post on Truth Social he said: “The failing Nation of Iran wants to make a deal, quickly and badly.
asserted
Nation → say → deal
I will determine whether or not the U.S.A. will choose to engage - The concept of which we are open to.
asserted
we → determine → which
Trump claims oil price rise is due to war between Russia and Ukraine not Iran
US president Donald Trump has claimed the world’s Diesel prices have risen mostly due to the war between Russia and Ukraine and not due to war in Iran.
uncertain
prices → claim → Iran
…and 11 more, not listed.
