European Commission stands firm against reported U.S. plan to revive Russian gas

The European Commission has firmly rejected a reported U.S. plan to resume Russian gas imports. Despite the proposal, European Commission spokesperson Paula Pinho insisted that no sanctions against Russia can be lifted until Moscow ceases its war against Ukraine, emphasizing the Commission's unwavering stance on sanctions. Pinho clarified that the Commission, under President Ursula von der Leyen, will not alter its position on sanctions, even in the context of a potential peace settlement.

The Commission's stance aligns with the conclusions of the EU summit held on Oct. 15–16, which expressed regret over the U.S. temporary lifting of sanctions on Russian diesel fuel. The New York Times, citing unnamed sources, reported that the U.S. administration's proposal suggests Europe should resume large-scale purchases of Russian gas, with specific mention of reviving operations on pipelines used to transport Russian gas to Europe.

U.S. negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner reportedly presented this proposal to representatives from Ukraine and Brussels.