European Union (EU) officials are considering the possibility of resuming purchases of Russian gas as part of a potential deal to end the Russia-Ukraine war, the Financial Times reported today, citing unnamed sources.
Advocates of resuming purchases of Russian gas, including officials from Hungary and Germany, say the move could be an incentive for both Russia and Europe to support a peace deal to stabilize the continent's energy market, the London newspaper writes.
However, the proposal to make supplying the EU with Russian gas part of an agreement with Russia to end the war is opposed by Ukraine's main allies in the Union, as well as officials from some "eastern" members of that bloc, according to the Financial Times.
Ukraine suspended the transit of Russian gas to the EU through its territory a little less than a month ago, prompting protests from Slovakia and Hungary, two EU members that continue to rely on Russian gas, despite the 27-nation bloc's efforts to diversify its sources of supply.
European countries continue to buy Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG), while TurkStream remains the only pipeline bringing Russian gas to the EU.
Hungary announced this week that it had received "the guarantees it had sought" from the EU to ensure energy transit to European countries after threatening to veto sanctions against Moscow. Shortly afterwards, Reuters reported that the European Commission would resume talks with Ukraine, Slovakia and Hungary on gas supplies.
Before Russia's attack on Ukraine in February 2022, the EU received around 40 percent of its total gas from Russia via pipeline, with Germany being the leading buyer.
Fossil fuel exports represent a key part of the Russian state's revenue and contribute to fueling its war against Ukraine, which is why Kiev's partners are calling for a complete halt to purchases.
The EU has suspended all imports of Russian coal, most of its oil imports and more than two-thirds of its gas imports, the European Commission announced recently. The EU wants to eliminate all Russian fossil fuels from its market by 2027.
US President Donald Trump, who has vowed to broker a peace deal for Ukraine, has called on Europe to buy more US liquefied natural gas and increase oil production to lower prices and cut Russia's revenues, in a bid to force it to the negotiating table.
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