Kiev Halts Attacks on US-Linked Oil Terminals Amid Energy Supply Concerns

Ukraine has reportedly agreed to stop attacking the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) infrastructure, which is used to transport Kazakh crude oil to Europe and Asia. The CPC's shareholders include companies from Russia, Kazakhstan, Western Europe, and the US, such as Chevron, ExxonMobil, and Shell.

The agreement comes after Ukraine had launched several drone attacks on the terminal in February and throughout the year, culminating in attacks last month that prompted ships chartered by US companies to stop loading. Under the new agreement, Ukraine has promised not to target CPC infrastructure and ships that are not on its sanctions list and do not carry Russian cargo.

The attacks on shipping have added to concerns over energy supplies, which have been further exacerbated by the Strait of Hormuz being largely closed due to the US war with Iran. On July 25, Yemen's Houthi rebels declared a blockade of Saudi Arabia, another important shipping chokepoint in the Red Sea.