WASHINGTON WANTS RUSSIAN GAS BACK IN EUROPE — THROUGH UKRAINE
The Trump administration is pushing to restart Russian gas exports to Europe through Ukrainian pipelines as part of an effort to secure an energy ceasefire, according to The Wall Street Journal.
Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner reportedly proposed using an American intermediary to sell the gas and get around European restrictions. The arrangement could also create lucrative opportunities for American investors. Washington’s argument is that restoring Russia’s access to European customers would give Putin a financial incentive to stop attacking energy infrastructure.
Consider what that means: Russia invades Ukraine, destroys its infrastructure, and is then offered a route back into a valuable market as an incentive to stop. An American middleman does not change where the gas comes from or who stands to benefit.
The report also describes a proposal to hold Russian proceeds in a restricted account to prevent their use in financing the war, while Ukraine would receive transit fees. Those details matter, but so do the unanswered questions about enforcement, access to that money and what happens if Russia breaks the arrangement.
There is a troubling commercial logic running through these negotiations. Ukraine needs lasting protection from Russian attacks. Europe needs energy security it can trust. Neither should be reduced to an opportunity for investors to collect a share of the transaction.
Peace must be measured by whether Ukrainians can live safely—not by how profitable the deal becomes.