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U.S. special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner proposed that European Union countries resume larger purchases of Russian gas and that Ukraine restart transit, according to sources cited by The New York Times. The proposal was presented as part of a possible peace settlement, but European officials rejected it, the report said. The extent of any U.S. follow-up or formal policy remains unclear.
U.S. presidential envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner proposed that European Union countries buy more Russian gas and that Ukraine resume transit of the fuel to Europe, according to sources cited by The New York Times. The sources said European officials rejected the proposal, which the envoys viewed as part of a possible peace settlement with Russia.
The envoys argued that renewed Russian gas exports could benefit both Ukraine and European governments, The New York Times reported. Ukraine could regain transit-fee revenue lost after the route stopped operating, while European leaders could respond to public concern over rising energy prices. The report did not identify a specific proposed volume, timetable, or mechanism for restarting transit.
European and Ukrainian officials cited by the newspaper said some in Europe suspect Washington also wants Russian gas to return partly because the United States hopes to gain a stake in the exports. That is an account of those officials’ views, not a confirmed description of the U.S. government’s motive. The report did not say that the envoys secured an agreement or that any formal policy had been adopted.
The EU continues to buy some Russian gas, but its share of gas demand supplied by Russia has fallen substantially. Russian gas made up 45% of EU gas demand in 2021 and 13% in 2025, according to the figures in the report. Ukraine stopped transit of Russian gas to Europe in 2025 and, according to the report, has lost about $1 billion a year in transit fees.
Gas Transit Would Reshape Europe’s Energy Debate
The reported proposal ties energy trade to negotiations over the war: restoring Russian exports would not be only a commercial decision, but part of a possible political settlement. Any restart could alter Europe’s supply relationships with Russia and bring renewed debate over energy security, dependence, and the costs of replacing Russian gas.
For Ukraine, resumed transit could restore a significant source of annual revenue, according to the report. But reopening the route would also require agreement among parties that have not accepted the proposal, as well as decisions about the terms and safeguards. For European governments, the issue would test whether lower-cost or additional energy supplies outweigh concerns about relying again on Russian exports after the invasion.
The report also places the proposal amid other recent U.S. actions concerning Russian energy. It says President Donald Trump reached an agreement with Vladimir Putin to supply Russian diesel to the global market, declined to impose what he called “hell sanctions” on Russia, and pressed Ukraine to stop strikes on Russian oil refineries. Those developments form part of the reported setting; they do not establish that the gas proposal is agreed U.S. policy.
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EU Dependence Fell After 2021
The EU’s reliance on Russian gas dropped after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The figures cited in the report show the change from 45% of EU demand in 2021 to 13% in 2025. The figures do not mean that all Russian gas purchases ended: the bloc still buys some Russian gas.
Ukraine’s transit route had carried Russian gas toward European customers. Transit stopped in 2025, cutting off the associated fees for Ukraine, which the report estimates at about $1 billion annually. The new proposal, as described by the newspaper’s sources, would bring both renewed purchases and transit back into discussion as elements of a potential settlement.
The report also notes a dispute over the reasons for higher diesel prices. Trump has said Ukrainian attacks on Russian refineries are driving up prices worldwide, including in the United States. The report says the main cause is instead the U.S. war with Iran and the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. These are competing explanations presented in the source material, not a settled finding established by the gas proposal.
“They proposed that EU countries resume larger purchases of Russian gas and that Ukraine resume transit.”
— Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, as described by sources cited by The New York Times
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Terms and U.S. Intent Remain Unclear
The New York Times report, based on sources, does not provide the proposal’s full terms, when it was presented, or whether the envoys offered a formal document. It is also unclear whether the proposal was made with authorization as a specific U.S. negotiating position or whether it will be raised again.
The report says European officials rejected the idea, but does not specify which governments took part or whether their objections were shared across the EU. It does not describe Ukraine’s response directly. No agreement to restart transit or increase purchases is reported, and the officials’ concerns about a possible U.S. stake in exports remain attributed assessments rather than established fact.
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Watch for Official Responses and Talks
The next indicators are whether the White House, European governments, or Ukraine publicly confirm or clarify the reported discussions, and whether gas transit appears in any further peace negotiations. Any concrete move would require details on participants, supply volumes, pricing, infrastructure, and the terms under which transit might resume. The report provides no announced timetable or next meeting, so the proposal’s status beyond the reported rejection remains uncertain.
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Key Questions
What did the U.S. envoys reportedly propose?
According to sources cited by The New York Times, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner proposed that EU countries buy more Russian gas and that Ukraine restart transit of Russian gas to Europe.
Did the European Union accept the proposal?
No. The report’s sources said European officials rejected it. The article does not identify every government involved or give a detailed account of their reasons.
Has Ukraine resumed Russian gas transit?
No restart is reported. Ukraine halted transit in 2025, and the proposal to resume it has not been described as an agreement.
How much Russian gas does the EU still buy?
The report says Russian gas accounted for 13% of EU gas demand in 2025, down from 45% in 2021. The EU still buys Russian gas, but the report does not give a current 2026 share.
Why did the envoys reportedly support restoring gas exports?
They reportedly argued that transit could restore revenue for Ukraine and that additional Russian gas could ease pressure on European consumers facing higher energy prices. Some European and Ukrainian officials also suspect Washington may seek a stake in exports, but that motive is not confirmed.
Source: rss
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