Trump Proposes Russian Gas Sales to End Ukraine War

The Trump administration is proposing that Europe resume purchasing Russian natural gas as a central economic incentive in a broader peace settlement to end the war in Ukraine. Peace envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff have discussed the plan with European officials and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, suggesting that restarting pipelines would provide Moscow with economic boons while granting Ukraine transit revenues.

To facilitate these negotiations, President Donald Trump has eased economic pressure on Russia by lifting sanctions on Russian diesel and exempting the country from new congressional sanctions. Russian envoy Kirill Dmitriev indicated these moves signal the start of wider cooperation, which could include the sale of Lukoil assets to a group including the U.S. government and the development of data centers powered by Russian nuclear energy.

While the White House argues the proposal would alleviate energy price hardships, European leaders, particularly in Germany, have strongly opposed the move due to security risks and a desire for energy independence. President Volodymyr Zelensky has criticized the administration's deals with Russia, though he acknowledged the likelihood of a future gas agreement.