Financial Times: Europe is considering the restoration of Russian gas transit through Ukraine as a strategy to pressure Putin into negotiations.

European officials have begun discussions on the resumption of Russian gas transit to Europe. Proponents of this decision argue that it could bring Russia to the negotiating table to end the war in Ukraine, and once an agreement is reached, it would serve as a guarantee for maintaining a ceasefire. Additionally, this move would help lower high energy prices in Europe.

Source. This is reported by the Financial Times, citing sources familiar with the matter.

The initiative has received support from some officials in Germany and Hungary, as well as authorities from several other EU countries. Primarily, they are interested in the possibility of making energy resources cheaper, as clarified by one of the FT's interlocutors.

However, this idea has "infuriated" officials in Brussels and diplomats from some Eastern European countries.

"This is madness. How foolish must we be to even consider this as a possible option?" one of them stated.

Moreover, the very discussion of this issue has negatively impacted American liquefied natural gas (LNG) exporters who are eager to sign long-term supply contracts with Europe.

According to two European officials, American suppliers fear that the resumption of Russian gas transit through Ukraine will render their products uncompetitive.

After the cessation of supplies through Ukrainian territory starting in early 2025, the share of Russian pipeline gas has dropped to about 5% of total EU imports. Currently, Russian gas is entering the EU solely via the "TurkStream" pipeline.

Germany was the largest importer of Russian gas before the full-scale war in Ukraine. In 2021, supplies from Russia accounted for approximately 40% of the total pipeline gas imports to the EU. By 2024, this figure has fallen to 10%.

Background. Meanwhile, it has been reported that Germany has increased its purchases of Russian LNG sixfold. In official German databases, it is usually labeled as "Belgian gas," even though Belgium does not conduct any domestic extraction.