U.S., Russia explore pathways to resume Russian gas supplies to Europe

Reuters reported the information, citing sources.

U.S. President Donald Trump supports a peace agreement regarding Ukraine, which could facilitate the restoration of energy ties, with the potential role of the U.S. as a mediator. Russia has expressed its readiness to resume exports, with Gazprom considering the possibility of short-term contracts and discounts to win back European customers.

Currently, supplies are limited to liquefied natural gas (LNG) and flows through the TurkStream pipeline, which covers only 19% of Europe’s needs compared to 40% before the invasion. Discussions include the possibility of American investors acquiring stakes in key pipelines or acting as intermediaries to repackage Russian gas in order to reduce political resistance in Europe.

However, there are challenges, including political opposition in the EU, unresolved legal disputes, damage to the Nord Stream pipelines, and regulatory obstacles.  

The European Commission plans to ban new deals for Russian gas by 2025 and to terminate existing ones by 2027, facing opposition from countries such as Hungary and Slovakia.

Despite these obstacles, sources believe that continued cooperation between the U.S. and Russia could lead to the resumption of gas supplies through American intermediaries as part of a broader strategy of peace and economic reintegration.

• In 2024, imports of Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) to the European Union reached a record level, despite the bloc’s attempts to reduce its gas dependence on Russia after the full-scale invasion of Ukraine.