The United States and Russia have reportedly held closed-door talks discussing the possible resumption of Russian gas exports to Europe with American involvement.
The negotiations included discussions on potential US investor participation in acquiring Ukraine’s gas transmission system or even stakes in Russian pipelines such as Nord Stream. Russia has officially denied that such talks took place.
According to Reuters, sources familiar with the negotiations said that Russia’s return to the European gas market could be part of a future peace agreement with Russian leader Vladimir Putin. While many EU countries are actively seeking alternative energy sources, some European consumers remain open to buying Russian gas — and their number could increase after the war ends.
As Reuters reports, discussions between the US and Russia also covered potential US investment in Russian energy infrastructure — including Nord Stream and Gazprom. One of the proposed scenarios involved American companies purchasing gas from Gazprom and then supplying it to Europe, including Germany. Such a model could help reduce political resistance in Europe to the resumption of Russian gas deliveries.
At the same time, Gazprom is reportedly considering offering German energy firms short-term 24-month contracts at deep discounts instead of traditional long-term agreements. However, this plan faces several obstacles, including ongoing legal disputes over previously breached contracts and technical issues — and some pipelines running through Ukrainian territory have been damaged by the war.
Source: www.kyivpost.com
