According to The Wall Street Journal (WSJ), US negotiators view this scheme as a possible element of an energy truce between Moscow and Kyiv, and, in the longer term, a broader peace agreement. However, the initiative is facing serious resistance from European countries, which have set a course for a complete phase-out of Russian gas.
According to the WSJ, the proposal was discussed by US special envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Whitecoff during their visits to Moscow and Kyiv in September. It is envisaged that Russian gas could be sold to European buyers via a US intermediary. Such an arrangement would allow the current restrictions on direct purchases of Russian energy resources to be circumvented, whilst simultaneously opening up opportunities for US investors.
Gas as a tool for peace negotiations
The US side views the return of Russian gas to the European market as an economic incentive for Vladimir Putin to agree to an energy truce with Ukraine.
It is envisaged that Russia’s revenues from gas sales would be channelled into a special escrow account in a third jurisdiction. According to the plan devised by US negotiators, this should limit the possibility of using the funds received to finance military operations.
Ukraine, for its part, would be able to receive revenue from the transit of Russian gas through its territory. For Kyiv, this would mean the restoration of revenue from the use of gas transmission infrastructure, which until recently had ensured the supply of Russian gas to a number of European countries.
It should be noted that in previous years, Moldova also earned up to $100 million a year from the transit of Russian gas to Europe. However, even if the US proposal were to be implemented, the parties are unlikely to return to previous transit volumes. Furthermore, any agreement on transit will have to be linked to the resolution of a number of other issues with the Russian side, including debts owed to Gazprom and restrictions on the activities of the Moldovan-Russian operator Moldovagaz.
However, Chisinau’s position will only become relevant if the main parties to the proposed deal reach a consensus. We are still a long way from that.
According to the WSJ, Washington is presenting this initiative to its European partners as a possible way of reducing energy costs ahead of the coming winter.
Resuming transit through Ukraine is technically easier than restoring supplies via the Nord Stream pipelines. The Ukrainian gas transmission system is connected to European routes leading to Slovakia, Austria and Germany. Supplies via this route continued until January 2025, despite the full-scale war.
Europe is not ready to return to Russian gas
The European Union’s stance remains the main obstacle to the US initiative. Following the start of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, European countries have significantly reduced their dependence on Russian energy resources, viewing it as a threat to energy security.
The publication notes that in January 2026, the Council of the EU finally approved a regulation on the phased cessation of Russian natural gas imports. The ban applies to both pipeline supplies and liquefied natural gas. Transitional periods are provided for certain previously concluded long-term contracts; however, the final phase-out of pipeline gas must take place no later than autumn 2027.
Dan Jørgensen, the European Commissioner for Energy, had previously advocated a permanent phase-out of Russian gas, emphasising that even the conclusion of a peace agreement should not automatically restore the previous model of energy relations with Moscow.
In European political circles, the American proposal has been met with mixed reactions. As the WSJ notes, citing representatives of European authorities, some of them consider a return to purchasing Russian gas to be incompatible with the principles of European policy since the start of the war.
The energy situation could alter Brussels’ calculations
Nevertheless, the current situation on the energy market could complicate the implementation of Europe’s strategy to phase out Russian fuel, the WSJ notes.
According to the Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators (ACER), as at 21 October 2026, European underground gas storage facilities were approximately 75 per cent full. This is below the average for the past nine years.
The situation in the Middle East is exerting additional pressure on the market. Disruptions to liquefied natural gas (LNG) supplies from Qatar and increased competition for alternative fuel sources have contributed to rising gas prices. ACER estimates that the conflict in the Middle East has increased Europe’s gas import costs by €18–33 billion.
At the same time, the share of Russian gas in European consumption has fallen significantly. Whilst Russia accounted for around 45 per cent of European gas imports before the full-scale war began, its share now stands at approximately 11 per cent. Around 30 per cent of Europe’s gas supply is provided by American LNG.
Consequently, the resumption of Russian supplies could intensify competition in the market and potentially lower purchase prices. However, the economic benefits of such a decision would need to be weighed against the political and strategic risks.
The US initiative remains under discussion
According to the WSJ, discussions on the gas scheme were initially postponed after Ukraine, under pressure from Donald Trump, temporarily halted strikes on Russian oil refineries. Subsequently, Kyiv resumed attacks on Russian oil refining infrastructure, which has once again brought negotiations on an energy truce to the fore.
Washington is seeking to link energy agreements to a broader settlement of the conflict. According to the publication, trilateral talks between the US, Russia and Ukraine are scheduled to take place in mid-November in Abu Dhabi. However, Moscow has not yet accepted the US proposals for an energy agreement.
A separate focus of the US discussions remains the possible resumption of operations at the ‘Nord Stream’ pipeline. Washington views its potential restoration as part of a broader agreement with Russia and the US’s European allies. However, damage to the gas pipelines resulting from the explosions in September 2022, as well as political and regulatory obstacles, make this option considerably more complicated.
The return of Russian gas to Europe via Ukraine remains, for the time being, a proposal under discussion rather than an agreed decision. Its implementation would require not only an agreement between Moscow and Kyiv, but also a review of existing European restrictions. Therefore, the main question is not so much the technical feasibility of resuming transit, but rather Europe’s willingness to allow Russian gas back onto its market, the publication notes.
This story was translated with the assistance of artificial intelligence.The translation was also reviewed by the Logos Press editorial team.
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