Trump Russia Gas Proposal: Europe Should Buy Russian Gas
The Trump Russia gas proposal would turn years of American energy policy upside down. According to reporting from The New York Times on October 17, the Trump administration has pitched the resumption of Europe’s purchases of Russian natural gas as a key element of a peace deal to end the war in Ukraine — an economic windfall for Moscow that would restore its leverage over the continent.
Kushner and Witkoff Pitch the Idea
The Times reports that President Trump’s peace envoys, special envoy Steve Witkoff and the president’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, raised the idea in talks with Ukrainian and European officials, including at a meeting in Miami earlier this month and with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv last month.
The American pitch, according to people familiar with the talks, is that Ukraine should consider restarting the pipelines that once carried Russian natural gas to Europe. To help draw Russia toward ending the war, officials argued, the revenues would also benefit Ukraine through transit fees — while meeting what they see as Europeans’ desire for cheaper energy.
Europe Recoils at the Plan
European officials in the talks recoiled at the suggestion. It would undo years of European Union efforts, backed by Washington, to rid the continent of its dependence on Russian gas after Moscow’s full-scale invasion.
The White House told The Times it “has been working closely with Ukraine and European partners on a comprehensive peace plan that includes economic incentives for both Russia and Ukraine,” adding that the goal is “not simply to end the fighting but to create conditions for lasting peace, economic recovery, and stability across the region.”
A Reversal of US Energy Policy
The Times described the proposal as one that could overturn years of US energy policy, giving Moscow an economic boost while reviving Russian influence over Europe. From the perspective of the American energy industry, it would also cut into demand for US liquefied natural gas in Europe.
The reporting lands days after Trump postponed implementation of the Graham Act, which would impose high tariffs on countries buying Russian energy — a waiver that has already drawn bipartisan anger in Washington. Critics say that rather than pressuring Russian President Vladimir Putin, the administration keeps offering Moscow economic incentives to negotiate.
Source: New York Times