European Union diplomats have firmly opposed a U.S.-backed proposal to resume Russian natural gas imports through Ukraine, reinforcing the bloc’s commitment to reducing its reliance on Russian fossil fuels by 2027. This plan, reportedly discussed by U.S. representatives Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, involves resuming Russian gas transit with the support of an American intermediary, potentially generating revenue for Ukraine while reopening European markets to Russian gas.
The proposal suggests placing Russian gas revenues in an escrow account in a third country to prevent the funds from directly supporting Moscow’s military operations. However, no final agreement has been reached, and EU officials remain hesitant to support the plan due to ongoing Russian aggression in Ukraine.
Legal challenges also hinder the proposal, as it conflicts with the EU’s policy to phase out Russian gas imports. The EU plans to terminate remaining long-term Russian liquefied natural gas contracts by January 2027 and ban long-term pipeline gas supplies by September 2027, with some exceptions.
Ukraine ceased Russian gas transit through its territory on January 1, 2025, after its transit agreement expired. Kyiv declined to renew the arrangement, citing concerns about Russian energy exports funding Moscow’s war efforts. Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten has also rejected the idea, advocating for stronger sanctions and continued economic pressure on Russia instead.
Meanwhile, discussions between Washington and Moscow have reportedly touched on broader energy cooperation, such as the potential return of American oil companies to Russia and the revival of certain export routes. However, these proposals face political, regulatory, and infrastructure challenges, particularly within Europe.
The EU’s resistance underscores the ongoing divide between Washington’s reported efforts to explore economic arrangements with Moscow and Europe’s strategy of reducing Russian energy dependence while maintaining pressure over the conflict in Ukraine.