US proposed raising Russian gas supplies to Europe in Ukraine peace plan

The Trump administration has proposed increasing Russian gas supplies to Europe as part of a broader plan to end the war in Ukraine, the New York Times reported, citing people familiar with the discussions.

Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff raised the idea with Ukrainian and European officials, including President Volodymyr Zelensky, in September, the newspaper said. They suggested Ukraine consider reopening the pipelines that once carried Russian gas to Europe, as a way to give Moscow an economic incentive to end the war.

US negotiators pointed to the transit revenue Ukraine could earn and to European voters' interest in cheaper energy, according to the New York Times. The gas proposal is one part of a wider plan that also covers security guarantees for Ukraine, territorial questions and future relations between Russia and NATO, the paper reported.

European negotiators have reacted coolly to the idea, the New York Times said. The German chancellor's security adviser objected most strongly, at a meeting in Florida, saying Russian gas sold through a middleman was no different from direct supplies. Current and former German officials acknowledge that the return of Russian gas would lower prices, but warn it would revive dependence on Moscow and carry the risk that supplies could be cut off again.

Some US officials expect Washington to seek a share of any revived Russian gas exports, so that American companies or the government would take part of the proceeds, the New York Times reported. American and Russian officials have discussed potential commercial deals since last year, the paper said, without this persuading President Vladimir Putin to drop his main demands.