Trump Envoys Pitch Russian Gas Return to Europe
The proposal would route Russian natural gas through Ukraine to European buyers, with a U.S. intermediary handling sales. Trump envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner presented the idea during September visits to Russia and Ukraine, as a potential incentive for Moscow to stop attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure. Ukraine could receive transit fees, while U.S. investors could take part in the trade.
A senior U.S. official said proceeds from gas sales could be placed in escrow in a third-party jurisdiction to prevent the Kremlin from using the money to finance its war. Any economic arrangement would form part of a comprehensive deal to bring the conflict to a close. The idea has not been agreed to, and Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said current conditions made such plans impossible to implement, while leaving open the possibility of future changes.
The proposal would run against the European Union’s plan to phase out Russian gas. The bloc has approved a ban on Russian liquefied natural gas from the start of 2027 and pipeline gas by fall that year. Russian gas made up an estimated 13% of EU imports in 2025, worth more than 15 billion euros annually.
The plan also sits uneasily with the U.S. push for Europe to buy American energy. Analysts have questioned its feasibility and legality, and one said renewed purchases could embolden Russia. Ukraine has restarted attacks on Russian energy targets after pausing them under pressure from Trump. Peace talks involving the U.S., Russia and Ukraine are planned for Abu Dhabi in mid-November.
Trump’s Russian Gas Proposal Risks Rewarding Putin
The proposal would restore a major source of Russian energy revenue at a moment when Europe is trying to end its reliance on Moscow. Trump envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner pitched routing Russian gas through Ukraine to European buyers, with a U.S. intermediary and American investors involved. Ukraine could collect transit fees, and gas-sale proceeds might be held in escrow.
That safeguard does not erase the central risk: renewed purchases could give the Kremlin a financial incentive to accept a temporary pause while preserving the prospect of future revenue. A previous energy ceasefire collapsed after Russia continued attacking Ukrainian energy infrastructure. Ukraine has again launched attacks on Russian energy targets.
The EU has committed to phasing out Russian liquefied natural gas at the beginning of 2027 and pipeline gas by late autumn. Russian supplies still accounted for an estimated 13% of EU imports in 2025, worth more than 15 billion euros. European officials have cautioned that relying on Moscow makes the continent susceptible to pressure, and critics argue the proposed deal would undercut that effort.
The administration presents renewed gas sales as a possible route to an energy ceasefire and peace talks. But the plan is not agreed, and Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said current conditions made it impossible to implement. Talks involving the U.S., Russia and Ukraine are planned for Abu Dhabi in mid-November; the proposal’s promise of a deal should not obscure the risk of restoring leverage and income to Russia.
Gas Proposal Offers a Pragmatic Path to Energy Peace
The Trump team’s proposal puts a practical bargaining tool on the table: renewed access to European gas buyers in exchange for a comprehensive deal to bring the war to a close. Envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner raised the idea during September visits to Russia and Ukraine. Ukraine could earn transit fees, U.S. investors could participate, and gas revenue could be held in escrow to prevent the Kremlin from using it to finance the war.
Europe faces high energy costs, and a senior U.S. official said European buyers had shown interest in the idea because it could lower gas prices. The plan is not a settled deal, and Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said it could not be implemented under current conditions. Still, a proposal that links energy access to an end to attacks deserves to be judged as diplomacy, not dismissed before negotiations.
The approach would collide with the EU’s approved phaseout of Russian gas: liquefied natural gas is to be banned from the beginning of 2027 and pipeline gas by fall. It also conflicts with Washington’s push to expand American energy sales to Europe. Critics say reopening Russian supplies could weaken that strategy and embolden Moscow; supporters of the proposal can point to escrow and Ukraine’s transit role as safeguards built into the idea.
Ukraine has resumed strikes on Russian energy targets, and talks involving the U.S., Russia and Ukraine are planned for Abu Dhabi in mid-November. The proposal’s future depends on whether it can become part of a broader agreement, rather than another energy truce that fails to stop attacks.
Reported by The Daily Beast, The Daily Caller.
