Drones Can Wait: One Word from Vance Froze Zelensky's Big Operation

Ukraine has frozen its drone strikes on oil tankers in the Black Sea following a demand by US Vice President J.D. Vance. The American administration feared shocks to the global energy market and harm to US companies, including Chevron and ExxonMobil, which hold stakes in CPC. Kyiv agreed not to strike CPC infrastructure or non-Russian vessels, in exchange for hope of a license to produce Patriot missiles. Meanwhile, Ukraine has stepped up strikes on Russian refineries.

Ukraine has frozen its drone strikes on oil tankers in the Black Sea following a demand by US Vice President J.D. Vance. The American administration feared that the strikes, which also targeted tankers carrying crude oil from Kazakhstan to the CPC terminal in Russia, would add instability to global oil markets and harm the interests of American companies. Ukrainian officials confirmed that Kyiv agreed not to strike CPC infrastructure or non-Russian vessels, as long as they are not under sanctions and do not carry Russian oil. A senior Ukrainian official told the Financial Times that Kyiv is listening carefully to American partners and has established appropriate mechanisms. It was also reported that Chevron and ExxonMobil, two American energy giants, hold stakes in CPC and in oil fields in western Kazakhstan. Ukraine agreed to the demand partly because it is seeking a license from the US to produce Patriot missiles and hopes to purchase hundreds of interceptors before winter. Meanwhile, Ukraine has stepped up strikes on other Russian energy infrastructure, hitting three refineries this month.