Washington proposes Europe resume Russian gas purchases as part of peace plan
U.S. envoys reportedly proposed reactivating pipelines, including Nord Stream, during talks in Kyiv in September — a move met with negative reactions in Europe.
Washington has proposed that Europe consider resuming purchases of Russian natural gas as part of a peace framework for the war in Ukraine, a suggestion that has drawn quick and negative reactions from European officials.
Diplomatic push tied to broader peace plan
At the center of the idea is a broader peace plan associated with Donald Trump, which envisions energy arrangements as a bargaining chip to entice Moscow toward a ceasefire. The plan’s architects discussed the gas proposal during diplomatic meetings in Kyiv in September.
U.S. special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner reportedly raised the possibility with Ukrainian and European interlocutors, urging Ukraine to examine whether pipelines that previously carried Russian gas to European markets could be restored to operation.
According to the proposal, reviving undersea infrastructure such as the Nord Stream pipeline was seen as an "easy target" for rapid reactivation in the event a peace agreement is reached, a detail that contributed to the negative response from European representatives who view such a move as a major shift in long-standing energy policy.
European officials reacted negatively to the idea, warning that restoring flows from Russia would reshape energy security and political dynamics on the continent. U.S. officials framing energy flows as leverage in negotiations reportedly see it as a potential incentive for Moscow to agree to stop hostilities.
The suggestion has added a new dimension to debates over possible diplomatic solutions for Ukraine, mixing energy policy with high-stakes negotiations while prompting concern among European capitals about the implications of renewed Russian gas deliveries.
Photo: press material from the event
