Russians plan to return their gas to Europe – American business will help
26 March 2025 14:41
Russia is discussing with the United States the potential resumption of Russian gas supplies to Europe through the Nord Stream pipeline. This was stated by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, "Komersant Ukrainian" reports, citing Russian state media.
“Now, of course, there are disagreements. But is it only the United States and Russia that are interested in normal energy supply to Europe? There is talk about Nord Stream. It might be interesting if the Americans use their influence on Europe and force it not to give up Russian gas,”
– Lavrov said in an interview with the Russian state-run channel.
He also accused European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and German Economy Minister Robert Habeck of opposing the resumption of these gas pipelines.
“They all say that they will never allow Nord Stream to be restored. These are either sick people or suicides,”
– Lavrov said.
At the same time, he called it “surreal” that Russian gas supplies through the destroyed pipelines could resume with US mediation.
In September 2022, explosions occurred on the Nord Stream and Nord Stream 2 gas pipelines that run under the Baltic Sea and connect Russia to Germany. As a result, Nord Stream was completely disabled, and Nord Stream 2 had only one usable line left, which Germany did not put into operation due to Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
At the same time, after Donald Trump came to power, discussions began in Germany about the possibility of placing Nord Stream 2 under the control of American companies to resume Russian gas supplies. According to Bild, Richard Grenell, Trump’s former special envoy, is negotiating on this issue on behalf of Washington. According to the publication, he has already visited Switzerland, where the headquarters of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline operator is located.
In addition, according to the Financial Times, former Nord Stream 2 CEO Matthias Warnig, who is called Putin’s friend, is also trying to restart Nord Stream 2 with the help of a consortium of American investors. They have already drafted a deal with Gazprom that could be implemented if sanctions are lifted. A Financial Times source noted that Washington could then declare:
“Now Russia can be trusted, because reliable American partners are involved in the deal.”
According to the source, if this deal is concluded, American investors will start making profits “for nothing.”
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Europe and Russian gas
As of early 2022, the EU was 40% dependent on Russian gas. In 2021, 65% of the gas purchased by Germany was Russian. In the third quarter of 2023, only 12% of the gas imported by the EU remained Russian.
At the same time, some EU countries, such as Hungary and Slovakia, remain dependent on Russian gas. These countries’ contracts with Gazprom provide for gas supplies through the Ukrainian gas transportation system. Austria has signed a contract for gas supplies until 2040, but it has already declared that it has gotten rid of its dependence on Russian fuel.
Previously, it was believed that after both Nord Stream and the Ukrainian gas transportation system were shut down, Russia would be able to supply gas to Europe only through the Turkish Stream.
According to the Center for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA), since the beginning of the full-scale Russian invasion, the European Union has purchased 206 billion euros worth of energy from Russia.
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