Kyiv agrees to halt attacks on non-Russian tankers in Black Sea – Bloomberg
Ukraine has agreed not to strike certain non-Russian oil tankers and Black Sea infrastructure critical to Kazakhstani oil exports after last month's strikes on vessels halted loading operations, a US official has told Bloomberg.
Source: Bloomberg, as reported by European Pravda
Details: Ukraine has established points of contact so that commercial carriers can communicate information and ensure safe passage for vessels, said the US official, who asked to remain anonymous in order to speak candidly about the private arrangement.
The agreement, reached following a meeting between senior US government officials and Ukrainian leadership, is a potentially significant step towards increasing oil supply volumes in the region after a series of recent attacks on vessels near the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) terminal in Novorossiysk, Russia, caused a chilling effect on activity.
The CPC terminal is critical to bringing Kazakhstani oil to market, as the Central Asian country has no significant capacity to export oil via alternative routes. Around 2% of global crude oil supply typically passes through the CPC, and European refineries are heavily dependent on volumes from the region.
Ukraine has intensified its campaign against Russian oil ports as part of the war that began with Moscow's invasion in 2022, including attacks on vessels near the CPC terminal, leading to loading disruptions and the suspension of some operations as shipowners began avoiding the area. The attacks come as global oil markets are already facing supply pressures due to the war in Iran and reduced flows through the Strait of Hormuz.
Rising oil and fuel prices have rippled through the global economy and pushed up petrol prices across the US ahead of November's midterm elections, with voters' economic concerns expected to play a key role in the outcome.
Under the US-brokered agreement, Ukraine has committed to refraining from attacks on CPC infrastructure and non-Russian vessels heading to the terminal, provided those vessels are not subject to Ukrainian sanctions and are not carrying Russian cargo, the US official stated.
Kyiv is also providing shippers with instructions clarifying which vessels may be targeted. Under the terms of the arrangement, the official noted, vessels must not be subject to Ukrainian sanctions, must not be carrying Russian oil or other cargo, and must not be owned by Russian individuals or legal entities.
Ukraine remains in close contact with US companies and the Trump administration on all matters related to the security and protection of commercial shipping, another source familiar with the situation stated.
Although shipments have since resumed, they have remained below normal levels due to the spread of drone attacks near Novorossiysk.
Russian authorities typically suspend oil loading when drone warnings are received at the terminals.
It is worth noting that US President Donald Trump, during the public part of his meeting with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in early July, remarked that Ukrainian strikes on Russian refineries constitute an escalation capable of bringing the war to an end.
Türkiye this week called on Russia and Ukraine to take measures to ensure shipping safety in the Black Sea after a Turkish-owned vessel was damaged in a drone attack near the Russian port of Novorossiysk and three crew members were seriously injured.
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