The Donald Trump administration is considering a plan for the return of Russian gas to the European market. This plan is seen as part of Washington's strategy to reach a peace agreement with Moscow and could reactivate the route for Russian gas exports through Ukraine to the European Union.
Details of U.S. Proposals
According to published reports, U.S. representatives have suggested to European countries that they increase their purchase of Russian gas, and Ukraine is also considering reopening pipelines that were previously used to transfer Russian gas to EU member states. Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, representatives of Trump, raised these proposals in discussions with European and Ukrainian officials, including Volodymyr Zelensky, the President of Ukraine, during their visit to Kyiv in September.
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Impacts on the European Energy Market
The shift in European energy policy is particularly notable following the escalation of the Ukraine war in 2022. Previously, Russia supplied about 45% of the European Union's gas imports, but with the imposition of Western sanctions and damage to key gas transit infrastructure, Russia's share has decreased to about 12%. However, EU member states still purchased approximately 36 billion cubic meters of Russian gas last year, including gas transported through pipelines and liquefied natural gas.
The transit of Russian gas through Ukrainian territory was halted in January 2025 when Kyiv officials decided not to extend the gas transit agreement with Moscow. Following this development, the TurkStream pipeline became the only remaining route for transporting Russian gas to the EU. The European Union also emphasizes its plan to reduce energy dependence on Russia and will gradually decrease imports of Russian gas starting in June 2026.
Suspension of Sanctions and Assessment of Consequences
In light of these developments, Marco Rubio, the U.S. Secretary of State, announced that Trump has allowed a 60-day period to assess the economic consequences of sanctions and tariffs related to Russia. This decision comes as only a few weeks remain until the U.S. midterm elections, and rising energy prices, alongside disruptions in global oil supply, have increased pressures on the Trump administration.
Trump also stated in discussions with reporters that he has not yet made a final decision on this matter. On the other hand, Volodymyr Zelensky has strongly protested this decision, warning that this action could embolden Vladimir Putin.
Ultimately, the overall developments indicate that the Trump administration is exploring ways to utilize Russian energy capacities amid increasing pressures from rising energy prices and disruptions in global fuel supply.
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