The European Union has rejected a proposal to resume Russian natural gas imports through Ukraine, a plan reportedly backed by the United States. EU diplomats have reiterated their commitment to ending reliance on Russian fossil fuels by 2027, citing ongoing Russian attacks on Ukraine as a barrier to renewed energy cooperation.
The proposal, discussed by U.S. representatives Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, aimed to restore Russian gas transit via Ukraine with the assistance of an American intermediary. This arrangement could have provided transit revenue for Kyiv while allowing Russia to resume gas exports to Europe. However, EU officials have opposed the plan, emphasizing the legal and policy challenges it poses under the bloc’s Russian gas phaseout strategy.
The EU’s strategy includes terminating long-term Russian liquefied natural gas contracts by January 2027, followed by a ban on long-term pipeline gas supplies by September 2027, with limited exceptions. The proposed arrangement also suggested placing Russian gas revenues in an escrow account in a third country to prevent direct funding of Moscow’s military activities, but no conclusive agreement has been reached.
Ukraine ceased Russian gas transit through its territory on January 1, 2025, upon the expiration of its existing transit agreement. Kyiv’s decision not to renew the arrangement was based on concerns that Russian energy exports were continuing to generate revenue for Moscow amid the ongoing conflict.
Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten has voiced opposition to the idea of resuming Russian gas purchases, advocating for stronger sanctions and sustained economic pressure on Russia. This sentiment reflects broader EU resistance to the proposal, highlighting the divide between the United States’ reported economic negotiations with Moscow and Europe’s strategy to decrease energy dependency while maintaining pressure over the Ukraine war.
Discussions between Washington and Moscow have also included potential broader energy cooperation, such as the return of American oil companies to Russia and the revival of certain export routes. Nevertheless, these proposals face substantial political, regulatory, and infrastructure hurdles, particularly within Europe. The EU’s stance underscores its determination to pursue energy independence from Russia despite external negotiations.