While energy relations between Europe and Russia are frozen, officials of Washington and Moscow have discussed the aid that the United States could bring to relaunch sales of Russian gas to the continent, Eight sources close to negotiations told Reuters.
Europe reduced its imports of Russian gas following the invasion of Ukraine by Moscow in 2022, a decision which led to a loss of $ 7 billion for the Russian exporter Gazprom the following year.
US President Donald Trump pleads in favor of peace in Ukraine, which suggests a thaw of gas relations.
Sources close to bilateral discussions have said that redefining the role of Moscow on the European Union gas market could help consolidate a peace agreement with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Although a large part of Europe has sought other sources of supply, some buyers have remained faithful to Russia, and the sector officials believe that others could return once a peace agreement has been concluded.
As for Russia, nothing has struck its economy more harshly than the loss of the majority of the European gas market three years ago.
It now provides 19 % of European demand, compared to 40 % before, mainly in the form of liquefied natural gas (LNG) and in part via Turkey, by the Turkstream pipeline.
Washington’s involvement in the restoration of gas sales could help Moscow overcome political opposition in a large part of Europe.
The involvement of the United States would also be beneficial for Washington because it would give it visibility and perhaps a certain control over the amount of Russian gas which returns to Europe, two diplomatic sources and a source in the White House said.
Since 2022, Europe has turned to other gas suppliers, including American exports of liquefied natural gas (LNG).
American envoy Steve Witkoff and Putin’s special envoy for investments, Kirill Dmitriev, had discussions on gas in peace talks in Ukraine, two of the eight sources said.
Mr. Witkoff’s spokesman refused to comment when he was asked if he had addressed the issue of Russian gas exports to Europe.
“Currently, there are no discussions of this type,” said the Russian Direct Investment Fund, led by Dmitriev, in a statement in Reuters.
Gazprom would consider selling gas to Europe if a new owner took control of the gas network between Russia and Europe, the Kremlin spokesman Dmitri Peskov said in April to the French magazine Le Point.
On the road crossing the Baltic Sea, Gazprom controls the two twin gas pipelines Nord Stream 1 and 2, supported by European companies which hold participations.
Moscow is ready to market its gas and know that some European countries still want to buy it, said Peskov in the interview with Le Point magazine. “There is a gas seller, there are potential buyers,” Peskov told journalists in April.
Among the countries that continue to buy gas are Hungary and Slovakia, which are supplied by the Turkstream gas pipeline. Belgium, France, the Netherlands and Spain are obtaining in LNG with the Russian company Novatek in the context of long-term contracts.
Regarding the possible involvement of the United States, five sources have indicated that the discussions carried out so far relate to the participation of American investors in the North Stream pipeline connecting Russia and Germany, in the gas pipeline crossing Ukraine or in Gazprom itself.
American companies could also serve as buyers, by buying gas to Gazprom and by shipping it to Europe, including Germany, the sources said.
-Two of the sources have indicated that diplomatic discussions involving potential American investors have also examined the idea that an American buyer buys Russian gas to export it to Europe in order to mitigate European political opposition to the resumption of supplies.
Blackrock, Vanguard and Capital Group each hold a participation of 1 to 2 % in Gazprom.
Blackrock, Vanguard and Gazprom did not respond to requests for comments. Capital Group refused to comment.
The European Commission refused to comment. The president of the commission, Ursula von der Leyen, expressed her opposition to a return to Russian energy supplies.
“Some continue to say that we should reopen the Russian gas and oil tap. It would be a historical error and we would never let it happen, “she said during a session of the European Parliament on May 7.
“Russia has repeatedly proven that it was not a reliable supplier. »»
Brussels wishes to prohibit any new gas agreement with Russia by the end of 2025 and prohibit imports within the framework of existing agreements by the end of 2027. This project, which will be debated next month, will have to be approved by the European Parliament and a majority of the Member States. Hungary and Slovakia have already expressed their opposition to this measure.
Trump said that he hoped for a rapid peace agreement in Ukraine and that he expected this to open the way for important trade relations between Russia and Ukraine with the United States.
Russia is ready to immediately resume its gas exports to Europe if political will exists, said Putin.
kyiv and Washington signed a mining agreement between the United States and Ukraine on April 30, which includes all the assets and infrastructure linked to natural resources belonging to the Ukrainian government, but does not explicitly mention the gas pipeline.
“If this level of commitment between Russia and the United States is maintained, it is very likely that Russian gas deliveries will resume … with the intervention of American intermediaries,” said a person close to the discussions.
Gazprom, eager to relaunch its sales in Europe, plans to offer its German customers short -term contracts of 24 months and significant price discounts, two sources said.
Traditionally, it asks buyers to sign contracts lasting several decades, two sources noted.
OBSTACLES
However, the EU remains largely opposed to this measure, and other obstacles must be overcome. Many judicial cases are underway concerning the violation of existing contracts.
Nord Stream gas pipelines were damaged during a sabotage act in September 2022. Three of the four pipes were broken, leaving only one capable of pumping gas.
The war in Ukraine has also changed the situation, the Russian attacks having damaged the pipelines crossing Ukraine, even if the main transit route remains operational.
On a more technical level, Nord Stream 2 has never received authorization from the German government to start sending gas to Germany, noted a spokesperson for the German Ministry of Economy and Energy, who did not wish to make any other comments.
