Ukraine has paused drone attacks on oil tankers using Russia’s Black Sea port of Novorossiysk following a request from US Vice President JD Vance, the Financial Times reported on Wednesday.

Reuters said it could not independently verify the report. The White House, State Department and Vance’s office had not responded to its requests for comment when the story was filed.

According to the Financial Times, Vance made the request after Washington became concerned that Ukraine’s strikes were disrupting international oil markets and affecting American companies with investments in Kazakhstan’s oil sector.

Kyiv reportedly agreed not to target infrastructure belonging to the Caspian Pipeline Consortium, or CPC, and not to attack non-Russian vessels unless they were under Ukrainian sanctions or transporting Russian oil or other Russian cargo.

Why Novorossiysk matters

Novorossiysk is a major Russian Black Sea port and the outlet for the CPC pipeline, which carries crude from Kazakhstan to international buyers. Although the terminal is on Russian territory, much of the oil it handles is Kazakh rather than Russian.

Western companies, including Chevron and Exxon Mobil, have large interests in Kazakh production and the CPC system. Attacks near the terminal can therefore affect oil supplies and businesses outside Russia.

Drone strikes disrupted as much as one-fifth of CPC oil loading in July, four sources familiar with the data told Reuters. Kazakhstan’s oil production dropped 14 per cent in July from June, according to the same report.

The US administration’s reported intervention illustrates the tension between supporting Ukraine’s defence and protecting global energy supply. Washington has backed Kyiv against Russia while also trying to prevent oil prices from rising sharply.

Ukraine continues energy campaign

Ukraine has intensified attacks on Russian refineries, depots, terminals and other energy infrastructure. Kyiv says the campaign is intended to deprive Moscow of revenue and fuel used to finance and supply its military.

The reported pause is limited. It does not amount to a general halt in Ukrainian attacks on Russian energy targets, and it does not protect Russian ships or sanctioned vessels carrying Russian cargo.

The distinction may be difficult to enforce during a fast-moving maritime conflict. Tanker ownership, registration, cargo origin and sanctions status can be complex, while drones may operate over crowded waters close to civilian vessels.

Turkey has previously called on both Russia and Ukraine to protect navigation in the Black Sea after attacks damaged commercial ships and injured crew members. The growing use of maritime drones has increased the risk that the war could disrupt civilian trade far from the front line.

India and global oil prices

The development matters to India because instability in the Black Sea is occurring alongside disruption in the Strait of Hormuz and Red Sea. A simultaneous loss of supplies from multiple routes could raise crude prices, freight rates and insurance costs.

India is a major buyer of Russian oil but also imports crude from several other producers. Higher global prices can affect the rupee, domestic inflation and the government’s fuel-subsidy calculations even when the country secures discounted barrels.

The reported US request also shows how energy considerations can shape wartime decisions. Ukraine depends heavily on American military and diplomatic support, including air-defence weapons, while Washington wants to prevent attacks from destabilising non-Russian oil flows.

Until US or Ukrainian officials confirm the arrangement, the development should be presented as a Financial Times report carried by Reuters. The next test will be whether attacks around the CPC terminal and non-Russian tankers actually stop.