The United States officially warned Ukraine after Ukrainian forces struck the Russian port of Novorossiysk and affected American economic interests.
Ukraine’s ambassador to the United States, Olga Stefanishyna, announced this during a briefing in Washington, CNN reported.
U.S. Raises Concerns Over Impact on Investments
Stefanishyna said the U.S. Department of State sent Ukraine an official diplomatic note, known as a demarche. In the message, the State Department said Ukrainian strikes on Novorosiisk affected American economic interests tied to investments in Kazakhstan.
U.S. officials urged Ukraine to avoid actions that could harm those interests. However, they did not demand that Ukraine stop attacking Russian military or energy infrastructure overall.
Stefanishyna said Kyiv acknowledged the message. She also noted that the State Department emphasized the larger scale of American economic interests in Kazakhstan compared with Ukraine.
She urged U.S. lawmakers to strengthen sanctions against Russia, stressing that stronger economic pressure could reduce Moscow’s ability to sustain the war and influence negotiations.
Context: Strikes Disrupted Oil Exports
Ukrainian drones struck Novorossiysk infrastructure in late 2025 and damaged oil transport facilities that handle exports, including oil from Kazakhstan.
Novorossiysk serves as a key hub for oil transported through the Caspian Pipeline Consortium. American companies hold shares in the consortium, and about 5% of global seaborne oil supplies pass through this route.
After the strike, Kazakhstan reduced oil exports, and global oil prices temporarily increased due to supply concerns.
Earlier, The Ukrainian Review reported that Russia’s oil and gas sector lost more than 1 trillion rubles in 2025 as Ukrainian drone strikes damaged refineries and reduced profits.
