Kremlin Downplays Prospect of Resuming Gas Shipments to Europe via Ukraine
U.S. officials reportedly suggested the idea during talks in September as an incentive for Russia to halt strikes on Ukraine’s energy grid.
The Kremlin has dismissed the possibility of restarting natural gas shipments to Europe through Ukrainian pipelines, according to Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov. The suggestion was reportedly raised by the Trump administration during September talks as a potential incentive for Moscow to cease missile strikes on Ukraine's energy grid.
Advocates argued this approach would enable Ukraine to collect transit fees and assist in reducing European heating costs. However, Peskov emphasized that the current on-the-ground realities make such a plan unfeasible. He noted that any resumption would rely on the consent of buyers, sellers, and the ability of the sellers. Russia has largely halted gas exports to Europe since the full-scale invasion, with European commitments to cease Russian oil and gas imports by the end of 2027.
Although the EU imported 6.9 billion cubic meters of Russian gas in the first three months of 2026, marking a 16% increase from the same period last year, Russia's share of Europe's natural gas consumption has dropped to 11%, down from 45% prior to the 2022 invasion.
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