The Trump administration has proposed allowing Europe to resume buying Russian natural gas as part of a broader plan to secure peace in Ukraine. According to people familiar with the talks, President Trump’s envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff have floated the idea in discussions with Ukrainian and European officials, including during a meeting with President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv last month. The proposal would reverse years of U.S.- and EU-backed efforts to reduce reliance on Russian energy, but Trump officials argue that renewed gas sales could provide economic incentives for Moscow and generate revenue for Ukraine.
European officials have resisted the idea, calling it a reversal of strategic energy independence goals. Critics say the approach prioritizes economic leverage over pressuring Russian President Vladimir Putin or bolstering Ukraine’s defense. The administration frames cheaper energy as a political necessity for European voters, using it as a diplomatic bargaining chip in ceasefire negotiations.
Source: New York Times Top Stories · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing