Ukraine "halted an intensive campaign of drone strikes against oil tankers using the critically important Black Sea port after a request from US Vice President J.D. Vance" late last month, the Financial Times reports, writes UNN.
Details
"Washington was concerned that Ukraine would further destabilize oil markets and harm American companies by attacking tankers carrying oil delivered via pipelines from Kazakhstan to the Caspian Pipeline Consortium terminal at the Russian port of Novorossiysk," the publication writes.
"Vance asked President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to stop the attacks during a phone call on July 31," Ukrainian officials and other people familiar with the matter said.
"Since then, Ukraine has not struck tankers near the CPC terminal," according to officials and an analysis of open-source information conducted by the FT.
According to officials, "it agreed not to attack CPC infrastructure or non-Russian vessels unless those vessels are under Ukrainian sanctions and are carrying Russian oil or other Russian cargoes."
"We listen very carefully to our American partners," a senior Ukrainian official said, adding that Kyiv had created the relevant "mechanisms" in response to the US request. The CPC was a "regular part of discussions with the governments of the United States and Kazakhstan," the source said.
American energy giants Chevron and ExxonMobil own stakes in the CPC, which is Kazakhstan's main oil export route, as well as in the western Kazakh oil fields it serves. Chevron owns 50% of Tengiz, the country's largest oil field, while Exxon owns 25%.
A US official confirmed that "the administration warned Ukraine to stop attacks on non-Russian vessels in the Black Sea, as well as on CPC infrastructure."
"The administration views the CPC as a vital channel for supplying energy of Kazakh origin to European markets, serving as an alternative to Russian energy supplies," the official said.
"The United States has "confirmed" Kyiv's commitment to refrain from attacks on CPC infrastructure and non-Russian vessels headed to the pipeline terminal in Novorossiysk, provided that they are not subject to Ukrainian sanctions," the official added.
Vance's office, Zelenskyy's office and Kazakhstan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The CPC, Chevron and Exxon declined to comment.
"A person familiar with Ukraine's position said that Kyiv agreed to the Trump administration's request because it sought a US license to produce Patriot interceptor missiles. It also hopes to purchase several hundred of them by winter, when Russia is expected to intensify its air attacks on critical infrastructure," the publication said.
Vance's request is not the first time American officials have attempted to restrain Ukraine from striking American business interests in Russia, the publication notes.