Ukraine agrees not to attack non-Russian tankers in the Black Sea, Bloomberg reports
Photo: Ukraine agrees not to attack non-Russian tankers in the Black Sea (Getty Images)
Ukraine has agreed not to strike certain non-Russian oil tankers and critical Black Sea infrastructure used to export Kazakh oil, according to Bloomberg.
According to a US government official, Ukraine has established contact points so commercial carriers can exchange information and ensure the safe passage of vessels.
The agreement, reached after a meeting between senior US government officials and Ukrainian authorities, could be an important step toward increasing oil shipments in the region after a series of recent attacks on vessels near the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) terminal in Novorossiysk, Russia, led to a slowdown in activity.
The CPC terminal is crucial for supplying Kazakh oil to global markets, as the Central Asian country lacks significant capacity to export oil through alternative routes.
The CPC normally handles around 2% of global crude oil supplies, while European refineries rely heavily on shipments from the region.
Ukraine has stepped up 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, which disrupted loading operations and halted some activity as shipowners began avoiding the area.
This comes at a time when the world cannot afford further disruptions to global oil flows, as the war in Iran and reduced shipments through the Strait of Hormuz are already causing an oil shortage in the market.
Rising oil and fuel prices have spread across the global economy and driven up gas station prices in the US ahead of the November midterm elections, whose outcome is expected to depend in part on voters' economic concerns.
Under the US-brokered agreement, Ukraine has committed to refraining from attacking Caspian Pipeline Consortium infrastructure and non-Russian vessels heading to the terminal, provided those vessels are not subject to Ukrainian sanctions and are not carrying Russian cargo.
Kyiv is also providing shippers with guidance explaining which vessels could be targeted. Under the agreement, vessels must not be subject to Ukrainian sanctions, must not carry Russian oil or other cargo, and must not be owned by Russian individuals or legal entities.
According to a source familiar with the matter, Ukraine remains in close contact with US companies and the Trump administration on all issues related to the security and protection of commercial shipping.
US urged Ukraine not to attack non-Russian vessels in the Black Sea
It should be recalled that last month, the US urged Ukraine not to strike non-Russian vessels in the Black Sea after an attack affected a tanker chartered by US oil company Chevron.
Earlier, Bloomberg reported that a series of attacks on tankers in the Black Sea had put Kazakhstan's oil exports through the Caspian Pipeline Consortium terminal near Novorossiysk at risk.
Due to the risks to shipping, Kazakhstan was forced to suspend oil deliveries to the terminal. The CPC transports crude from several projects, including those involving US oil company Chevron.
