US proposes resuming Russian gas transit through Ukraine as part of peace deal
The Trump administration is exploring the resumption of Russian natural gas supplies to Europe through Ukrainian pipelines as an economic incentive for Moscow to end the war. US special envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff raised the idea with President Volodymyr Zelensky and European officials. European negotiators have rejected the proposal, citing concerns about renewing Moscow's economic and political leverage.
Key points
- The Trump administration is considering restarting Russian gas transit through Ukraine to Europe as a core element of a future peace settlement.
- The New York Times reported the proposal, citing sources familiar with the negotiations.
- Special envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff raised the issue with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and European officials, including in Kyiv the previous month.
- US officials argue that restoring transit could give Moscow an economic reason to end the war and let Ukraine earn transit fees.
- European officials opposed the idea, warning it would undercut the EU's longstanding effort — previously backed by the US — to wean off Russian energy.
- On October 17, Trump exempted Russia from new sanctions adopted by Congress, one week after sanctions on Russian diesel fuel were lifted.
- Germany has been the most vocal opponent in Europe; before 2022 it was the largest buyer of Russian gas.
Why it matters
A US push to restore Russian gas flows to Europe would reverse years of transatlantic policy aimed at reducing European dependence on Russian energy. By raising the idea directly with Kyiv and European negotiators, the Trump administration is tying energy arrangements to war-settlement talks. European officials have already rejected the proposal, signalling a likely transatlantic rift if Washington presses the issue.
What happened
The Trump administration is considering the resumption of Russian natural gas supplies to Europe through Ukrainian pipelines as a key element of a future Ukraine peace deal. The proposal was reported by The New York Times citing sources familiar with the negotiations. US special envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff raised the issue during talks with President Volodymyr Zelensky and European officials, including at a meeting in Kyiv the previous month.
American representatives have proposed that Kyiv consider reopening gas pipelines that previously carried Russian gas to European countries. US officials argue that restoring transit could serve as an economic incentive for Moscow to end the war, while also letting Ukraine earn revenue from transit fees. The idea was raised in the broader context of negotiations on Russia's relations with NATO, security guarantees for Ukraine, and territorial issues.
On October 17, Trump exempted Russia from new sanctions adopted by Congress. The move came one week after the administration lifted sanctions on Russian diesel fuel. Trump's economic representative Kirill Dmitriev described the diesel deal as only the beginning of possible outcomes from his negotiations with Kushner and Witkoff, and said he expects further initiatives to be announced, stating that "the ice has broken."
How Ukrainian sources describe it
Ukrainian outlets frame the US proposal as a concession to Moscow rather than a peace-tradeoff. They headlined it as new revenue for Russia instead of new sanctions and stressed the strength of European opposition to the plan. The framing reflects concern in Kyiv that economic arrangements could undermine Ukraine's negotiating position.
Background
Both the US and the EU had previously worked to wean Europe off Russian gas, making the new US proposal a reversal of that policy. US and Russian officials have been in talks about potential business deals since last year, with a sanctions exemption on Russian diesel fuel already granted one week before the gas proposal became public. Germany, which before Russia's full-scale invasion was the largest buyer of Russian gas, has been the strongest European voice against the idea, and Chancellor Friedrich Merz's security adviser Günter Sauter objected during negotiations in Florida.