Vance Asked Zelensky to Avoid Key Oil Route as Ukraine Targets Russia’s Black Sea Fleet

Financial Times reports JD Vance asked President Volodymyr Zelensky on July 31 to avoid striking a key Kazakh oil export route through Russia’s Black Sea port of Novorossiysk. Ukrainian officials said Kyiv agreed to halt attacks on Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) infrastructure and non-Russian tankers unless the vessels are sanctioned by Ukraine or carrying Russian cargo. Reuters also noted Kyiv halted the tanker campaign, while strikes continued on Russian military targets at Novorossiysk.