US explores route to bring Russian gas back to Europe through Ukraine: Report

NewsWorld NewsEurope NewsUS explores route to bring Russian gas back to Europe through Ukraine: Report US explores route to bring Russian gas back to Europe through Ukraine: Report Edited by Abhishek Mishra / TIMESOFINDIA.COM / Updated: Nov 02, 2026, 13:27 IST Trump eyes Russian gas return to Europe despite past warnings over dependence The US is exploring a plan to bring Russian natural gas back into the European market through pipelines crossing Ukraine, in a bid to secure an energy truce between Moscow and Kyiv before winter.

The proposal is part of wider efforts to advance peace negotiations, The Wall Street Journal reported, citing officials from the US, Europe and Ukraine.The arrangement could see a US intermediary handle the sale of Russian gas, potentially bypassing European sanctions while giving American investors a stake in the business.

US envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff raised the proposal during their visits to Moscow and Kyiv in September, people familiar with the discussions told the WSJ. Watch Putin Warns Europe Is 'Paying The Price For Turning Away From Russian Energy Supplies' The idea faces a major obstacle: Europe's stated policy of ending its reliance on Russian energy.

EU legislation requires member states to phase out all Russian natural gas purchases by the end of 2027. Several European leaders have also ruled out returning to dependence on supplies from a country they consider a major security threat.Yet Washington believes the prospect of reopening a lucrative European market could persuade Russian President Vladimir Putin to agree to an energy ceasefire.

The proposed route would use the Soviet-era pipeline system connecting Siberia's Urengoi gas fields to Europe through Ukraine. Kyiv, in turn, could earn much-needed money from transit charges.The proposal had lost momentum last month after Ukraine halted attacks on Russian refineries following pressure from US President Donald Trump.

The pause lasted nearly two weeks, even as Russian strikes on Ukraine's energy infrastructure continued and Moscow began sending diesel to the US. Washington subsequently turned its attention to the possibility of negotiating a wider peace settlement.That pause is now over.

Ukraine launched attacks on three major Russian refineries over three days, beginning Friday, bringing the question of an energy truce back into focus. The renewed urgency comes ahead of planned three-way talks between the US, Russia and Ukraine in Abu Dhabi in mid-November.

Moscow has so far resisted US efforts to secure such an arrangement, according to the WSJ.A possible financial incentive for Moscow The White House has also discussed safeguards to prevent Russia from using gas revenues to bankroll its military campaign.

Under one proposal, proceeds from European sales would be placed in an escrow account in a third-party jurisdiction, a senior US official told the WSJ.American negotiators have presented the arrangement to European governments as a way to ease energy costs at a time when the continent is preparing for winter with relatively low gas reserves.

They believe access to the European market could give Putin a strong financial reason to accept a deal.The proposal would represent a dramatic shift in Trump's approach to Russian energy. During his first term, he repeatedly criticised then-German Chancellor Angela Merkel for backing the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, warning that the project would leave Germany “captive to Russia”.

His administration imposed sanctions on the pipeline in late 2019.Russia's subsequent invasion of Ukraine reinforced European concerns about the risks of relying on Moscow for energy. Before the war, Russian gas accounted for 45% of Europe's supplies.

That share has since fallen to 11%, with US liquefied natural gas now making up 30% of European consumption.The EU has since moved to dismantle its dependence on Russian gas, with a complete phase-out mandated by the end of 2027.

Its stated position is that purchases should not resume even after a comprehensive peace agreement, much less under a temporary ceasefire that leaves Russia's war effort intact.EU Energy Commissioner Dan Jorgensen reiterated that position in an October interview with a Hungarian newspaper, which his office confirmed.“I certainly would not trust Russia.

Even if there were peace tomorrow, which we all hope for,” he said.Europe's resistance faces a new energy test Do you support the US proposal to reintroduce Russian gas into the European market? Yes, it could ease energy costs.No, it would compromise European security.

You use AI every day. Now get your AI Quotient. Take the AIQ test. Abhishek Mishra is a Digital Content Producer at The Times of India, working with the news desk. He writes with a keen eye on foreign policy, defence developments, and the shifting currents of geopolitics-and yes, Indian politics always finds a way onto his radar too.

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