Ukraine has promised the United States that it will not target the Caspian pipeline or certain non-Russian vessels heading to a terminal in the Black Sea, Bloomberg said, citing sources.
According to a U.S. official, Ukraine has agreed not to attack certain non-Russian oil tankers and Black Sea infrastructure that is critical for the export of Kazakhstani oil.
The U.S. official said Ukraine has established contact points so that commercial shippers can exchange information and ensure safe passage.
This commitment, made following a meeting between senior U.S. government officials and Ukrainian leadership, marks a potentially significant step toward increasing oil flows in the region after a wave of recent attacks on vessels near the Caspian Pipeline Consortium terminal in Novorossiysk, suspended operations, Bloomberg said.
Under the agreement reached with the United States, Ukraine has committed to refraining from attacks on the infrastructure of the Caspian Pipeline Consortium and on non-Russian vessels heading to the terminal, provided that these vessels are not subject to Ukrainian sanctions and are not carrying Russian cargo, according to a U.S. official.
The Caspian Pipeline connects fields in Kazakhstan to the Russian port of Novorossiysk. Kyiv, according to sources, has promised the United States not to target vessels heading to the terminal, provided they are not subject to Ukrainian sanctions, do not carry Russian cargo, and do not belong to Russian individuals or legal entities.
Kyiv will also provide instructions to shippers, specifying which vessels are subject to attack. Under this agreement, the official said, ships 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 has been consistently attacking tankers moored at Russian ports, including in Novorossiysk – which is why Kazakhstan has become wary of transporting oil to its main pipeline. Bloomberg reports that Kazakhstan has no alternative routes for transporting its oil other than this one.
