US Pushes to Resume Russian Gas Flows to Europe via Ukraine, With Proceeds Proposed for Third-Country Escrow
The Trump administration is pushing to resume Russian natural gas exports to Europe through pipelines crossing Ukraine, as part of negotiations for an energy-infrastructure ceasefire between Moscow and Kyiv, The Wall Street Journal reported on November 2, citing American, European and Ukrainian officials. Presidential envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner raised the idea during visits to Moscow and Kyiv in September, the report said.
Under the proposal, an American intermediary would purchase Russian gas and resell it to European customers; Ukraine would collect transit fees; and Russia's sales proceeds would be placed in an escrow account in a third-country jurisdiction, to keep Moscow from using the money directly to finance the war. U.S. officials said the arrangement could give Russian President Vladimir Putin an economic incentive to stop attacking Ukraine's energy infrastructure and could help lower European gas prices ahead of winter.
The obstacles are substantial. The European Union has adopted legislation ending imports of Russian pipeline gas by the autumn of 2027, and many European governments are deeply skeptical of restoring energy ties with Russia. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on November 2 that immediately restarting gas shipments through Ukraine is not realistic under current battlefield conditions, though he left open the possibility of future exports if buyers and sellers reach an agreement. Russian gas transit through Ukraine stopped in January 2025 when the transit contract expired; Ukraine's pipeline network is intact and could reportedly resume operations relatively quickly, with connections through Slovakia toward Austria and Germany.
The idea was put on hold after Ukraine paused its strikes on Russian refineries under U.S. pressure; Kyiv resumed those strikes on October 31 and November 1. Trilateral technical talks among Russia, the United States and Ukraine are expected in Abu Dhabi on November 10-11, with an energy ceasefire among the core topics.
Source: The Wall Street Journal
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：天然气压缩站（资料图）。照片 CC BY-SA 4.0，作者 Majskij，经 Wikimedia Commons。 / Photo: A natural gas compressor station (file photo). CC BY-SA 4.0, by Majskij, via Wikimedia Commons.
