Trump urges Zelensky to stop strikes on Russian oil infrastructure

US President Donald Trump has called on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to stop striking Russian oil infrastructure, Reuters reports. According to Trump, such strikes are causing fuel shortages that are hurting the whole world.

"Mr. Zelensky needs to do one thing: stop destroying Russia's oil reserves," Trump told reporters while attending the Irish Open, a golf tournament held at his family's course on Ireland's west coast. "We've talked about this with Mr. Zelensky. There are plenty of other targets. Don't hit the fuel. It's hurting the whole world."

The American president did not mention that it was Russia that started the war and continues to bombard Ukrainian cities and villages daily with missiles and explosive-laden drones. Nor did he note that gasoline and diesel prices had already begun rising sharply after the US struck Iran, destabilizing the situation in the Middle East.

Controversial statement on Irish unification

Trump is spending his second day in Ireland, combining golf with his own business interests. On Saturday, he sparked controversy by unexpectedly saying he would be "very happy" to see Ireland united. On Sunday, he reiterated his support for the idea of a unified island.

In doing so, the US president departed from Washington's traditional neutrality on the sensitive question of a possible unification of Ireland and Northern Ireland, which have been divided for more than a century. Trump said their unification would happen "eventually." His remarks drew criticism from both Northern Irish unionists and several prominent politicians in London.

When reporters asked about the possibility of Scottish independence, Trump declined to answer, saying he would address the topic later. UK Housing and Communities Secretary Angela Rayner told Sky News: "Donald Trump is Donald Trump, and he'll say what he thinks. But we take the Good Friday Agreement seriously."

The 1998 agreement and political reaction

The 1998 Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement effectively ended three decades of violence between Irish nationalists seeking a united Ireland and unionists who wanted Northern Ireland to remain part of the United Kingdom. Under the agreement, a referendum on Irish unification can be held if the UK government concludes that a majority of Northern Ireland's population would support such a move; the outcome would also need approval from voters in Ireland.

Former Republican Congressman Mick Mulvaney, who served as US Special Envoy to Northern Ireland during Trump's first term, told the BBC that Trump's comments shouldn't be read into too much: "This doesn't signal a change in US foreign policy." Democratic Congressman Brendan Boyle added that both major American parties support the Good Friday Agreement, and "that's not going to change."

Golf resort, protests and security costs

On Saturday, Trump flew from Dublin to Doonbeg on Ireland's west coast, home to a golf resort owned by his company, the Trump Organization, which is hosting the Irish Open. He was joined by his sons Eric and Donald Jr., who have run the family business since their father returned to the White House in January last year.

Trump, a former real estate mogul, took the opportunity to praise his Irish resort during a meeting with Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin. The head of the Irish government assured Trump that Doonbeg's 784 residents were very grateful to the Trump Organization for its investment.

An estimated 40,000 spectators are expected to attend the tournament over the weekend, and Trump's presence has required heightened security measures reportedly costing Ireland around 20 million euros (nearly 485 million koruna). The visit has been accompanied by protests: on Saturday, around 10,000 people demonstrated in Dublin against Trump and his policies, while in Doonbeg, three women were detained for trespassing on the golf course grounds.

Around Prague, based on reporting by seznamzpravy.cz