U.S. proposes returning Russian gas to Europe via Ukraine to circumvent EU sanctions, - WSJ
The U.S. administration is trying to ensure that Russian gas supplies to Europe are restored as quickly as possible via the Ukrainian gas transmission system. To this end, Washington is proposing to bring in an American intermediary, which could allow the European sanctions to be circumvented.
The Wall Street Journal reports this, citing U.S. and European officials, according to Censor.NET.
According to the publication, U.S. special envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff discussed this initiative during their September trips to Moscow and Kyiv.
The proposed scheme involves the sale of Russian gas to European buyers through a U.S. intermediary. Sources cited by the WSJ note that such a model could create lucrative opportunities for U.S. investors.
Washington also hopes that Russia’s return to the European gas market will serve as an incentive for Vladimir Putin to agree to a ceasefire. Ukraine, for its part, could generate revenue from gas transit.
The U.S. proposes to block Russia’s access to gas revenues
According to the WSJ, White House officials have proposed directing proceeds from Russian gas sales into a special account in a third country.
The aim is to prevent the Kremlin from directly using the funds to finance the war against Ukraine.
The initiative is being discussed as part of negotiations on a possible energy truce ahead of winter. The issue has become particularly pressing following the resumption of Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil refineries.
The EU does not support the resumption of Russian gas imports
The U.S. is trying to persuade its European partners to agree to the proposed model. However, according to sources cited by the WSJ, the European Union largely rejects the possibility of resuming purchases of Russian gas.
In addition, current EU legislation calls for a complete halt to purchases of Russian natural gas by the end of 2027.
At the same time, Washington is considering the possibility of resuming operations on the Nord Stream gas pipeline as part of a broader agreement with Moscow.
According to the publication, this involves not only a possible end to the war in Ukraine but also the resolution of disputes between Russia and the U.S.’s European allies.
