Trump plans to upend EU’s plot to isolate Putin? Will Russian gas return to Europe?

Donald Trump’s reported plan to restore Russian gas flows to Europe through Ukraine could reopen a major debate over the European Union’s energy sanctions against Moscow. According to The New York Times, U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner reportedly proposed increasing European purchases of Russian gas as part of a potential peace deal to end the war in Ukraine. The proposal was reportedly discussed with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during a September visit to Kyiv. Russian gas transit through Ukraine ended in January 2025 after Kyiv refused to renew its agreement with Moscow. Although the EU sharply reduced its reliance on Russian energy after the invasion of Ukraine, it still purchased 36 billion cubic metres of Russian gas in 2025, including LNG.