US proposes to resume Russian gas transit through Ukraine – WSJ
фото: Reuters
The US is promoting the idea of resuming Russian gas supplies to Europe through Ukraine, hoping to achieve an energy truce between Kyiv and Moscow.
This is reported by The Wall Street Journal, citing American, Ukrainian and European officials.
According to the publication, the idea was proposed by US President’s special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner during their trips to Moscow and Kyiv in September.
The plan involves selling Russian gas through an American intermediary, bypassing European sanctions. Russia’s revenues from supplies are proposed to be credited to a special account in a third country, so that the Kremlin cannot use these funds to finance the war. Ukraine would receive transit fees in return.
American negotiators believe that Russia’s return to the European gas market will be an incentive for Vladimir Putin to agree to an energy truce. Washington has also presented the plan to European partners as a way to lower gas prices before winter.
Meanwhile, European officials are opposing the initiative. One representative from northern Europe said that resuming purchases of Russian gas contradicted EU principles. Another senior official compared the proposal to the 1938 Munich Agreement.
According to the WSJ, the plan was temporarily shelved after Ukraine, under pressure from US President Donald Trump, suspended strikes on Russian oil refineries for nearly two weeks. However, attacks resumed on October 30, putting the issue of an energy truce back on the negotiating agenda.
In addition, the US is considering the possibility of resuming supplies through the Nord Stream gas pipelines as part of a broader peace and security agreement.
Currently, the share of Russian gas in the European market is about 11%, compared to 45% on the eve of the full-scale invasion. At the same time, EU legislation provides for a complete cessation of Russian gas imports by the end of 2027.
As a reminder,the European Commission recently opposed the resumption of purchases of Russian gas . Brussels emphasized that the rejection of Russian energy sources is provided for by the REPowerEU legislation and does not depend on possible peace agreements.
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