US Proposes Europe Buy More Russian Gas to End 2-Year Ukraine War
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Oct 17
US Proposes Europe Buy More Russian Gas to End 2-Year Ukraine War
3 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Oct 17
Summary
Trump envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff have pitched Ukrainian and European officials on restarting pipelines that once carried Russian gas to Europe, including in talks with Volodymyr Zelensky last month in Kyiv.
The proposal is meant to entice Moscow into a peace deal by restoring gas revenue to Russia while also generating transit income for Ukraine and offering Europe cheaper energy.
European officials have recoiled at the idea because it would reverse years of EU policy—backed by Washington—to cut dependence on Russian gas and curb Moscow’s leverage.
The plan highlights Trump’s broader Ukraine diplomacy, which critics say leans on economic incentives for Russia rather than more pressure on Vladimir Putin or stronger support for Ukraine’s war effort.
Could the promise of cheaper energy secretly force Europe into funding the very adversary it spent years isolating?
Will reopening sabotaged pipelines actually secure peace, or merely replenish a war chest for future conflicts?
US-Russia Energy Pact of 2026: The Geopolitical Shock Upending Europe’s Path to Russian Gas Independence by 2027
Overview
In late 2026, surging global diesel prices after the outbreak of war in Iran pushed the Trump administration to waive tough US sanctions on Russia, aiming to lower fuel costs before the midterm elections. This led to a targeted deal with Moscow, releasing large volumes of Russian diesel onto world markets and sparking secret US-Russia talks about joint investments in key energy infrastructure. The move triggered outrage from Ukraine and the European Union, who responded with new sanctions and rejected US demands to release their own fuel reserves. Meanwhile, Europe accelerated its renewable energy push, adding record solar capacity to reduce reliance on foreign fossil fuels.