US President Donald Trump on Monday blamed Ukrainian strikes on Russian energy infrastructure and refinery closures in Democratic-led states for pushing domestic gasoline prices higher.

"What's driving up gasoline is no longer the Strait of Hormuz, because record numbers of barrels are coming out now on an almost daily basis," Trump wrote on his social media platform Truth Social.

He argued that higher pump prices stem from where Russian facilities "are being blown up by Ukraine, and where ours are being closed up, in blue (Democratic-led) states, like California." The remarks follow earlier appeals by Trump cautioning Kyiv against targeting petroleum facilities. However, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy recently confirmed plans to intensify strikes on Russian oil refineries to counter Russian attacks on Ukrainian military-industrial and infrastructure sites.

Domestic fuel prices continue an upward trend across the US. The national average price for regular gasoline stands at $4.37 per gallon, rising from $4.15 recorded a month ago and $3.13 reported at the same time last year, according to data from the American Automobile Association (AAA).

Russia on Wednesday extended a temporary ban on exports of diesel and marine fuel, as well as gasoil, by their direct producers until Oct. 31.

Meanwhile, G7 leaders on Friday agreed to immediately begin a coordinated release of 100 million barrels from emergency oil reserves over four months in response to surging prices and growing volatility in global energy markets.

Rising gas prices have become a major issue in the US midterm elections on Nov. 3, less than a month away, and neither of the two major political parties want to be blamed by voters. Most current polls predict Democratic gains in both houses of Congress.