U.S. Vice President JD Vance has urged Ukraine to halt its drone campaign targeting oil tankers and related infrastructure in the Black Sea, citing concerns over the adverse effects on American companies. The request, made to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during a call on July 31, appears to have led Kyiv to suspend attacks on vessels heading for the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) terminal near Novorossiysk.
Washington's concern stemmed from the potential disruption of oil markets and harm to U.S. businesses involved in transporting crude oil from Kazakhstan via the CPC. Ukrainian officials indicated that Kyiv agreed to refrain from attacking CPC infrastructure and non-Russian tankers, provided these ships are not under Ukrainian sanctions and are not carrying Russian oil or cargo.
"We very carefully listen to our American partners," a senior Ukrainian official told the Financial Times, confirming that mechanisms have been established in response to the U.S. request. The CPC, a crucial oil export route for Kazakhstan, is partly owned by U.S. energy giants Chevron and ExxonMobil, which have significant stakes in the western Kazakh oilfields it serves. Chevron owns 50 percent of the Tengiz oilfield, Kazakhstan's largest, while ExxonMobil holds a 25 percent stake.
A U.S. official confirmed that the Trump administration had previously cautioned Kyiv against targeting non-Russian vessels and CPC infrastructure in the Black Sea. The administration views the CPC as a vital alternative energy supply route for European markets, independent of Russian energy.
This is not the first instance of Washington intervening to protect American business interests in Russia. In February, Ukraine’s then-ambassador to Washington, Olha Stefanishyna, stated that the U.S. State Department issued a diplomatic warning after a Ukrainian drone strike on the Novorossiysk port late the previous year. Stefanishyna noted that Ukrainian attacks in Novorossiysk had affected American investments.
Kyiv's strikes on the CPC terminal in July, alongside attacks on Russian shipping in the Sea of Azov, had caused market volatility, intermittently halting oil shipments from Kazakhstan to Novorossiysk and significantly increasing shipping rates and insurance costs. According to Kpler, CPC shipments in July decreased by over 300,000 barrels per day compared to June. Kazakh crude has become increasingly important to global markets, particularly as Middle Eastern supplies face pressure.
A vessel chartered by Exxon was reportedly struck on July 17 while waiting to load at the CPC terminal. Towards the end of July, a ship chartered by Chevron was also hit by Ukrainian drones, along with three other tankers near Novorossiysk. Chevron's chief executive, Mike Wirth, had previously stated the company was working with governments to ensure the pipeline's continued operation.
Ukraine's drone campaign against oil infrastructure aimed to curtail revenues funding Russia's invasion. Vance has been a vocal figure regarding U.S. policy on the Russia-Ukraine war, previously expressing pride in the administration's decision to halt military assistance to Kyiv. Ukraine's reported agreement to Vance's request is also linked to its pursuit of a U.S. license to produce Patriot interceptor missiles, a critical need for air defense as Moscow is expected to intensify aerial attacks on infrastructure this winter. During their July 31 call, President Zelensky emphasized the importance of Patriots and air defense to Ukraine's priorities.