The United States is backing a proposal to quickly resume Russian natural gas supplies to Europe through pipelines running across Ukraine, as part of negotiations aimed at securing an energy ceasefire ahead of winter, The Wall Street Journal reported.
The proposal, discussed by US envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff during visits to Moscow and Kyiv in September, would allow Russian gas to be sold to European buyers through a US intermediary, potentially bypassing European sanctions. The arrangement could also open up lucrative opportunities for American investors, according to officials from the US, Europe and Ukraine cited in the report.
The plan is being considered as Washington seeks to persuade Russian President Vladimir Putin to agree
to an energy truce. US negotiators believe the prospect of returning to Europe’s natural gas market could provide Moscow with a strong incentive to reach an agreement.
How Would Proposed Gas Deal Work?
Under the proposal, Russian gas would flow through the Soviet-era pipeline network connecting Siberia’s Urengoi gas fields to Europe via Ukraine. The route also passes through Slovakia, with connections to Austria and Germany.
The pipeline could be brought back into operation almost immediately, unlike the Nord Stream pipelines under the Baltic Sea, which were badly damaged in explosions in September 2022. Nord Stream 1 stopped deliveries in August 2022, while Nord Stream 2 was never operational. Restarting either would require considerable time, apart from overcoming political and regulatory hurdles.
The White House has also proposed that revenue from the gas sales be deposited in an escrow account in a third-party jurisdiction, a senior US official told the WSJ. This would prevent the Kremlin from directly using the proceeds to finance its war in Ukraine.
Ukraine, meanwhile, could earn much-needed revenue through transit fees.
Why Is Washington Pushing For The Proposal?
US negotiators see the resumption of Russian gas supplies as a possible incentive for Putin to agree to a broader energy ceasefire. Washington has also presented the idea to European leaders as a way to bring down energy prices ahead of winter, when the continent is facing relatively low gas reserves.
The proposal has gained urgency amid renewed attacks on energy infrastructure. Ukraine paused strikes on Russian refineries for nearly two weeks after pressure from US President Donald Trump, while Russia continued attacking Ukraine’s energy facilities. Moscow also began shipping diesel to the US during this period.
Kyiv resumed its air campaign on Friday, carrying out three attacks on major Russian refineries over three days, according to the report. The renewed strikes have added pressure to efforts to reach an energy truce before planned three-way peace negotiations involving the US, Russia and Ukraine in Abu Dhabi in mid-November.
Russia has so far rebuffed US attempts to secure such an agreement.
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