The U.S. is reportedly pushing a plan for Russian gas to be transported to Europe via Ukraine, seeking an "energy ceasefire" before winter, but the plan is opposed by multiple European countries.

The U.S. is backing the rapid resumption of Russian gas deliveries to Europe via pipelines transiting Ukraine in order to secure an energy ceasefire arrangement before winter arrives, according to media reports citing U.S., European and Ukrainian officials, as Ukraine is currently in a state of war with Russia. The report said the idea was raised by U.S. special envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff during trips to Moscow and Kyiv in September: Russian gas would be sold through a U.S. intermediary, thereby circumventing European sanctions and potentially delivering substantial profits to American investors. Under current EU regulations, all purchases of Russian gas must be phased down to zero by the end of 2027. Leaders of major European powers have stated they are unwilling to become dependent again on energy supplies from what they regard as their primary strategic adversary. Citing a senior U.S. official, the report said White House officials proposed that funds from Russian gas sales to Europe be deposited into an escrow account in a third jurisdiction, preventing the Kremlin from using the money for war spending. The U.S. pitched the plan to European leaders on the grounds that it would help lower energy prices before this winter, when European gas storage has fallen to a low for the same period in recent years. A senior official from a Nordic country said the idea of resuming purchases of Russian gas runs completely counter to Europe's longstanding position. The U.S. position has shifted: Washington now believes that a eventual restart of the Nord Stream pipelines could serve as an important element of a broader grand bargain aimed not only at ending the Russia-Ukraine conflict but also at resolving long-standing tensions between Russia and America's European allies. The report added that a U.S. official disclosed that negotiating parties discussed multiple economic options; the European side showed interest in a proposal that could significantly lower gas prices across Europe. Nord Stream 1 was jointly built by Russia and Germany and began operation in 2011, with the aim of bypassing Ukraine's gas transit network. Both Nord Stream pipelines were damaged by underwater explosions in September 2022, and restarting them would be a lengthy undertaking. By comparison, the Ukrainian transit pipeline connecting Slovakia, Austria and Germany could resume gas flows almost immediately.