The Trump administration is pushing to restore Russian natural gas exports to Europe through Ukrainian pipelines, utilizing a U.S. intermediary to bypass European sanctions and create investment opportunities. Proposed by envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff ahead of mid-November 2026 talks in Abu Dhabi, the plan aims to incentivize an energy truce before winter. However, the proposal faces strong opposition from EU officials committed to phasing out Russian gas by 2027.
United States proposals to resume Russian gas sales
- ▪The proposed United States plan routes Russian gas sales to Europe through a US intermediary to bypass European Union sanctions.
- ▪The Trump administration is considering restoring Russian natural gas exports through the Nord Stream pipeline system as part of a broader settlement to end the war in Ukraine.
- ▪A White House official stated that agreements to resume Russian energy sales to Europe must be negotiated with the US International Development Finance Corporation and Treasury.
- ▪US envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff proposed restoring Russian natural gas sales to Europe via Ukrainian pipelines during visits to Moscow and Kyiv in September 2026.
- ▪United States officials proposed depositing Russian proceeds from European gas sales into an escrow account in a third country to prevent funding for the war in Ukraine.
Russian natural gas transit through Ukraine
- ▪Ukrainian gas transit historically carried approximately 15 billion cubic meters of Russian natural gas annually before operations stopped on January 1, 2025.
- ▪Reopening Soviet-era gas pipelines through Ukraine would provide Kyiv with transit fees to support its economy during the war with Russia.
- ▪Russian natural gas transit through Ukraine ended on January 1, 2025, when the 2019 transit agreement between Naftogaz and Gazprom expired without renewal.
European Union phase-out of Russian natural gas
- ▪European Union legislation requires member states to completely phase out all Russian natural gas purchases by the end of 2027.
- ▪European Union Energy Commissioner Dan Jorgensen confirmed in October 2026 that the ban on Russian natural gas imports should be permanent regardless of potential peace agreements.
Russian oil transit via Druzhba pipeline
- ▪Ukraine continues to transport Russian crude oil to Hungary and Slovakia via the southern branch of the Druzhba pipeline, shipping 9.73 million metric tons in 2025.
- ▪Russian oil transit through the Druzhba pipeline resumed on April 23, 2026, after Ukraine repaired infrastructure near Brody damaged in a Russian strike.
Story comments
Loading comments…