MOSCOW – The Kremlin on Thursday dismissed reports of any ongoing discussions with the United States or European nations regarding the resumption of Russian gas supplies through Ukraine, underscoring the breakdown in energy ties since the onset of the war.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov clarified during a press briefing that no formal negotiations are underway concerning the flow of Russian gas to Europe via Ukrainian transit routes. “There are no talks,” Peskov stated. “This is a commercial matter—there’s a seller and potential buyers. If there’s interest and transit is functional, discussions can take place, but nothing is being denied or ruled out.”
Russia’s pipeline gas exports to Europe have sharply declined since the war in Ukraine began in early 2022, further compounded by the sabotage of the Nord Stream pipelines. The final remaining transit agreement between Russia and Ukraine expired at the beginning of this year, and Kyiv refused to renew it due to the continuing conflict.
A Reuters report earlier this month suggested that as part of broader peace proposals, the U.S. had pushed for its International Development Finance Corporation to take control of a gas pipeline operated by Gazprom through Ukraine. However, the Kremlin has given no indication of such talks taking place.
Currently, the only operational Russian gas route to Europe is the TurkStream pipeline, which delivers supplies via the Black Sea to Turkey and on to parts of southern and central Europe.
In an interview with French magazine Le Point, Peskov signaled a willingness to resume gas trade under the right conditions. “Gazprom will discuss it. We are ready to supply gas, and we know some European countries are still interested. Any future arrangement would be purely commercial,” he noted.