The Trump administration has issued a warning to Ukraine, urging Kyiv to refrain from attacking non-Russian vessels in the Black Sea following a series of drone strikes that disrupted oil operations linked to US energy giant Chevron. According to The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) the diplomatic warning was issued after Chevron CEO Mike Wirth and other oil industry leaders met with senior US administration officials earlier this week.JOIN US ON TELEGRAMFollow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official. The executives sought to protect their operations in Kazakhstan after Ukrainian forces struck four tankers near the Russian Black Sea port of Novorossiysk, one of which was chartered by Chevron. A US official cited by the WSJ stated that following the industry discussions, the administration formally warned Ukraine that attacks on non-Russian vessels in the region were unacceptable. “The administration views the CPC [Caspian Pipeline Consortium] as a vital conduit for transporting Kazakh-origin energy resources to European markets, serving as an alternative to Russian energy resources,” the official noted. Economic impact on Kazakhstan and global markets The Russian port of Novorossiysk serves as a key oil export hub and the terminus of the Caspian Pipeline Consortium, a network that accounts for approximately 2% of daily global crude oil supplies. Chevron holds a 15% stake in the CPC, which transports oil from three major fields through Kazakhstan and Russia to the Black Sea. The US company also owns a 50% interest in the Tengiz field – the most productive of the three – which represents roughly 12% of Chevron’s global crude output.