WASHINGTON - U.S. negotiators have proposed that Ukraine and European governments consider restoring Russian natural gas flows to Europe as part of a broader effort to settle the war, The New York Times reported Friday, citing people familiar with the talks.
The proposal would involve bringing Ukrainian pipelines that once carried Russian gas to European customers back into use. The idea remains under discussion and does not represent an agreement to resume transit or a signed supply contract.
Gas Raised as an Economic Incentive
U.S. presidential envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner have raised the proposal with Ukrainian and European officials, including during a September meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv, according to the report, which was summarized by RBC.
The negotiators are considering renewed gas sales as a potential economic incentive for Moscow to accept a wider settlement. Other issues under discussion reportedly include security guarantees for Ukraine, territorial arrangements and Russia’s future relationship with NATO.
The report also said the possible reopening of an undersea gas pipeline had been discussed. No agreed plan or timetable for restarting that infrastructure was described.
Energy proposals have emerged alongside a broader U.S. negotiating effort led by Witkoff and Kushner. The Washington Post previously reported that their developing framework included economic integration and potential shared pipeline revenue, while talks over territory and security guarantees remained unresolved.
Proposal Conflicts With the EU’s Current Course
Any return of Russian gas would run against policies the European Union has already adopted to end Russian energy imports.
The Council of the European Union says its ban on Russian liquefied natural gas under existing long-term contracts will take effect Jan. 1, 2027. The ban on pipeline gas is scheduled for Sept. 30, 2027, with a possible delay until Nov. 1 if storage targets for the winter are not met.
The Council says Russia’s share of EU gas imports fell from 45% in 2021 to 13% in 2025 as the bloc diversified its energy supply after Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.
Russian gas transit through Ukraine stopped on Jan. 1, 2025, after a five-year agreement expired. Discussion of a possible restart does not overturn EU restrictions and does not mean Kyiv or European governments have accepted the proposal.
Source: Vesti Baku, citing The New York Times, RBC and the Council of the European Union.