According to The Financial Times, Ukraine has halted attacks on oil tankers using Russia’s Novorossiysk port after U.S. Vice President JD Vance asked President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to stop targeting vessels linked to the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC). Washington was concerned the strikes were disrupting global oil supplies and affecting U.S. companies including Chevron and ExxonMobil.
The attacks had disrupted Kazakhstan’s oil exports, with CPC shipments falling sharply in July while tanker shipping and insurance costs surged. Ukraine has reportedly agreed to avoid CPC infrastructure and non-Russian vessels while continuing attacks on Russian military and energy targets elsewhere.
The pause also comes as Kyiv seeks additional U.S. Patriot air-defense systems ahead of an expected increase in Russian attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure. Meanwhile, Ukraine has intensified strikes on Russian refineries, reducing refining capacity and adding pressure to global fuel markets.
