Trump Envoys Push Russian Gas Transit in Ukraine Peace Talks

US special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner have proposed that Ukraine and European allies consider resuming Russian natural gas transit through Ukrainian pipelines as part of a potential peace settlement, according to The New York Times. The idea was presented during high-level talks between the Trump administration, President Volodymyr Zelensky, and senior European policymakers.

However, the proposal has faced strong opposition, especially in Germany, where officials argue that it would threaten European energy security. American negotiators claim that re-establishing Russian gas flows to Europe would give Russia a financial interest in ceasing military actions, while also offering Ukraine economic benefits from the reconstruction process.

The plan is part of a broader strategy being discussed by the White House, which covers future NATO-Russia relations, guarantees for Ukraine's security, and territorial agreements. Some officials suggest that the U.S. might seek a share of the profits from the reactivated gas trade.

Though American and Russian representatives have reportedly discussed reviving the sabotaged Nord Stream 2 pipeline, White House sources deny that this specific topic was raised recently. The gas transit proposal follows earlier economic incentives offered by Witkoff and Kushner, which included un-freezing up to $100 billion in frozen Russian assets and easing sanctions on Belarus. German officials, in particular, have vehemently opposed the idea, emphasizing their country's shift away from dependency on Russian gas.