News Desk: Soumyajyoti Mandal,kolkata:The United States is exploring a proposal to resume Russian natural gas supplies to Europe through pipelines running across Ukraine, in an effort to secure an energy ceasefire between Moscow and Kyiv ahead of winter.
US envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff discussed the proposal during visits to Moscow and Kyiv in September. Under the proposed arrangement, a US intermediary could purchase Russian gas and sell it to European buyers.
The plan could also benefit Ukraine through transit fees for transporting gas across its territory. Washington has reportedly suggested depositing the revenue from gas sales into an escrow account in a third country to prevent Russia from directly using the money to finance its war effort.
However, the proposal faces significant challenges. The European Union has committed to phasing out Russian natural gas imports by the end of 2027, while several European leaders remain opposed to renewed energy dependence on Moscow.
Russia has also not yet agreed to the US proposal. Meanwhile, Washington believes reopening the gas trade could provide Russian President Vladimir Putin with an economic incentive to support an energy ceasefire and advance broader peace negotiations.With winter approaching, the proposal has once again brought Europe's energy security and the future of the Russia-Ukraine conflict into the international spotlight.
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