The "Energy Backchannel" in Washington: U.S. Proposal to Re-route Russian Gas Through Ukraine, with American Intermediaries Managing Sales
Wall Street Journal: U.S. Proposes Resuming Russian Gas Flows Through Ukraine to Europe
According to reporting by the Wall Street Journal, citing officials from the United States, Europe, and Ukraine, Washington has identified a pathway for Russian natural gas to re-enter European markets: U.S. authorities are advancing plans to revive the concept of transporting Russian gas via pipelines through Ukrainian territory, with American intermediaries overseeing the sales—thereby circumventing existing EU restrictions.
As reported, President’s Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, son-in-law of Donald Trump, discussed the proposal during visits to Moscow and Kyiv in September. The inclusion of Russian gas flows is viewed by U.S. officials as a potential component of a broader energy ceasefire arrangement between Moscow and Kyiv.
The objective, according to Washington, is to help European nations mitigate rising energy prices ahead of winter. Additionally, transit through Ukrainian territory would generate supplementary revenue for Kyiv from gas transportation fees.
In parallel, U.S. negotiators have proposed a specialized financial mechanism: proceeds from Russian gas sales would be deposited into escrow accounts located in third-party jurisdictions. Under the U.S. framework, this structure aims to limit the likelihood that such funds could be diverted toward military activities.
However, the initiative faces significant political hurdles. European countries have previously committed to phasing out Russian gas entirely, and current EU legislation mandates an end to all imports of Russian gas by 2027.
Moreover, the U.S. is not limiting its consideration to the Ukrainian transit route. According to the report, Washington has also entertained the possibility of restoring operations on the Nord Stream pipeline as part of a broader agreement. Energy arrangements could potentially serve as a lever in resolving the conflict in Ukraine and improving relations between Russia and U.S. allies in Europe.
Yet, the Nord Stream pipelines remain severely damaged following the 2022 sabotage incidents, making rapid resumption of supply highly improbable. In contrast, the Ukrainian transit corridor presents a technically more viable option for near-term restart.
According to the WSJ’s assessment, Russian gas currently accounts for approximately 11% of Europe’s consumption, down from around 45% prior to the outbreak of hostilities. Whether Washington can persuade European capitals to reconsider their energy policies remains uncertain. No formal agreement on resuming supply has yet been announced.
Previously, Life.ru reported that Ukraine’s natural gas consumption had declined by nearly half over several months. Daily usage dropped from about 35 million cubic meters in April to a range of 14 to 17 million cubic meters by September. Among the contributing factors were the suspension of operations at major industrial facilities and damage to gas infrastructure.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1880733225710596/
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