Supporters of the idea say that resuming gas exports could help normalize relations with Moscow and reduce energy costs.
This is reported by the Financial Times, citing sources.
The newspaper notes that supporters of buying Russian gas argue that it would reduce high energy prices in Europe, encourage Moscow to come to the negotiating table and give both sides a reason to implement and maintain a ceasefire. But the idea, even in previous discussions, has already provoked a backlash among Ukraine's closest allies in the EU, who “see it as a way of reducing European energy costs.”
“Some of the larger member states are putting pressure on energy prices and this is certainly one way of reducing them,” one official said.
The FT notes that resuming exports to Europe would significantly increase Moscow's revenues. Before the war, pipeline flows from Russia accounted for about 40% of the EU's total, with Germany the largest importer.
In addition, talk of a possible resumption of gas supplies from Russia has angered a number of Brussels officials and diplomats from some Eastern European countries, many of whom have worked over the past three years to reduce Russian energy exports to the bloc.
“This is madness. How stupid can we be to even think about this as an option?” one of them said. gas with European companies They fear that any resumption of Ukrainian transit could make their products uncompetitive.
“Ultimately, everyone wants to reduce energy costs,” a senior EU official also said.
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European Commission energy official Ditte Juul Jorgensen is in the US this week meeting with bonded gas exporters for talks that will focus on long-term supply potential. The EU's stated goal is to rid the bloc's energy system of all Russian fossil fuels by 2027. EU Energy Commissioner Dan Jorgensen is due to present a plan to achieve that goal in March.
The plight of the EU’s heavy industry has increased the need for cheaper energy sources in European countries. Gas prices in Europe are typically three to four times higher than in the US, the Financial Times reports. Gas from Russia accounted for about 10% of total supplies in 2024, but that has halved since a transit contract allowing gas to flow to the EU via Ukraine ended in January.
Another pipeline that brings Russian gas to the bloc is TurkStream through Turkey, which supplies Hungary with about 7.5 billion cubic metres of gas. Budapest, along with Slovakia’s pro-Russian government, has lobbied the EU to pressure Ukraine to resume gas transit. . Gary Mazzotti, chief executive of EP Infrastructure, which operates the Slovakian section of the pipeline, told the FT that a potential peace deal between Trump and Russia would almost certainly lead to talks on resuming Russian gas supplies.
- Earlier it was announced that the European Commission would continue talks with Ukraine on natural gas supplies to Europe and would involve Hungary and Slovakia in these talks.
- Russian gas supplies via Ukraine stopped on January 1, when the transit contract expired. Slovakia and Hungary are pressing the EU to intervene to resume supplies through the large pipeline.
