The U.S. president denied that his war on Iran was responsible for surging diesel prices, but a senior European official said Trump was using Kyiv as a scapegoat.

Axar.az reports, citing Politico, that asked about the current surge in global fuel prices, particularly diesel — which broke a record $6 per gallon in the U.S. on Friday — Trump insisted the spike was being caused by Ukraine rather than his own war with Iran, which has sharply restricted oil shipments from the Middle East.

But a senior European official familiar with U.S.-brokered mediation talks between Moscow and Kyiv told POLITICO that the Trump administration was searching for scapegoats ahead of crucial Nov. 3 midterm elections in the United States. The official was granted anonymity to comment on sensitive aspects of the three-way discussions.

“This administration is blaming Ukraine because they do not know what to do with their war [in Iran],” the official said. “Russian exports of diesel and oil have never been significant for U.S. consumption. The very idea is absurd. Moreover, we have all heard President Trump say that America itself can supply as much oil as anyone wants.”