U.S. Warned Ukraine Not to Strike American Investments in Russia
Foreign Policy
by Sam SkoveFebruary 24, 2026
AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary
The U.S. has reprimanded Ukraine after an attack on the Russian port city of Novorossiysk, which impacted American and Kazakh economic interests. Ukraine’s ambassador to Washington, Olha Stefanishyna, confirmed that the Department of State warned against targeting U.S.-linked businesses following the strike. The incident involved infrastructure operated by the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC), a key export route for Kazakh oil, with major stakeholders including U.S. companies like Chevron and Shell.
The attack on Novorossiysk targeted CPC facilities used by landlocked Kazakhstan to export 40% of its oil revenue. While no immediate response was received from the State Department regarding the warning’s nature—whether it was a formal demarche or a private phone call—the message was clear: avoid harming U.S. economic interests tied to Russia. The incident highlights the delicate balance between Ukraine’s military campaign against Russian energy infrastructure and the potential fallout for Western businesses.
Ukraine’s ongoing campaign of drone strikes on Russian oil facilities has caused fuel shortages in Russia and reduced output by up to 1.2 million barrels daily. Although the U.S. is believed to have provided intelligence support for these attacks
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Originally published on Foreign Policy on 2/24/2026