Moscow and Washington are actively discussing the possible resumption of Russian gas supplies to Europe, Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov confirmed in an interview with Interfax on May 9, 2025. The talks, which are part of efforts to peacefully resolve the conflict in Ukraine, include a search for schemes that would allow for bypassing political and legal barriers. Ushakov stressed that the dialogue is being conducted exclusively with the American side, noting:

“I honestly don’t understand who else to discuss it with.”

The statement reflects Russia's attempts to regain lost ground on the European gas market, despite resistance from the European Union, which is seeking to completely abandon Russian fuel by 2027.

According to Reuters, the talks are being attended by US President Donald Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff and the head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund, Kirill Dmitriev. As the agency's sources reported on May 8, a scheme is being considered in which American companies buy gas from Gazprom and resell it to Europe, which could soften political resistance in the EU. Another option involves selling American investors stakes in the Nord Stream gas pipeline, the pipeline through Ukraine, or even Gazprom itself. These proposals are prompted by the desire of European businesses, especially in Germany and France, to reduce energy costs, since LNG supplies from the US have turned out to be more expensive than Russian gas.

Europe’s energy landscape remains complex. After 2022, the share of Russian gas in the EU fell from 40% to 19%, with LNG supplies to Hungary, Slovakia, France, Spain and Belgium accounting for the bulk. Gazprom’s losses in 2023 reached $7 billion due to the loss of the European market. However, major companies such as France’s Engie have expressed readiness to return to purchasing Russian gas if the conflict in Ukraine is resolved.

Political obstacles remain significant. The European Commission has presented a plan for a complete ban on Russian fuel from 2027, and Nord Stream 2 has not yet received permission to operate from Germany. In addition, only one of Nord Stream’s four lines is operational after the 2022 explosions, limiting technical capabilities.