US Warns Ukraine Against Attacking Non-Russian Ships in Black Sea

The U.S. government has issued a stern warning to Ukraine, urging it to refrain from targeting non-Russian vessels in the Black Sea. This directive comes in response to a series of attacks that have disrupted oil operations, particularly those involving U.S. energy giant Chevron.

According to reports, the warning was issued after Chevron CEO Mike Wirth and other oil industry leaders met with senior U.S. administration officials. Their primary concern was safeguarding their business interests in Kazakhstan, following Ukrainian forces' attacks on four tankers near the Russian Black Sea port of Novorossiysk. One of these tankers was chartered by Chevron.

A U.S. official, cited by The Wall Street Journal, stated that the Trump administration officially cautioned Ukraine, deeming attacks on non-Russian ships unacceptable. The official emphasized that the Caspian Pipeline Consortium is a critical channel for transporting Kazakh energy resources to European markets, serving as an alternative to Russian energy supplies.

The Russian port of Novorossiysk is a key hub for oil exports and the endpoint of the Caspian Pipeline. This network accounts for approximately 2% of the world's daily oil supply. Chevron holds a 15% stake in the consortium and a 50% stake in the Tengiz oil field in Kazakhstan, which accounts for about 12% of Chevron's global crude oil production.

While the pipeline and oil fields remain physically undamaged, recent drone attacks have hampered the ability to load crude oil at the Novorossiysk terminal. This has forced Kazakhstan to reduce its oil production due to limited storage capacity. A prolonged disruption of supplies through the Caspian Pipeline could significantly impact Chevron's regional investments, which amount to tens of billions of dollars.