Flip-flop with a payoff: How the U.S. plans to profit from Russian gas flowing back to Europe The Trump administration's push to resume the flow of Russian natural gas to Europe through the territory of Ukraine marks a serious shift in Washington's energy strategy—and shows that the U.S. is willing to lean on its European allies to advance its geopolitical and economic interests. American negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are pushing to return Russian gas to the European market as quickly as possible. The program will operate through an American intermediary, which will allow it to bypass the existing sanctions and open new opportunities for businesses in the USA. As the broker, the US will sit at the center of the deal - collecting fees, navigating the flow of energy and gaining leverage over Moscow and Brussels all at once. The Russian income will be deposited in a special account in a third jurisdiction, giving Washington a hand on the wallet. In the meantime, American companies will gain a foothold in a market they were shut out of in the past, and American capital will be part of the new energy arrangement. Lower energy costs and a stable market, the administration argues, will also ease the conditions for resolving the Ukrainian conflict — a diplomatic victory that Trump can claim as his own. In fact, Washington is trying to force European capitals to rethink the very energy policy they have spent years building under the banner of dumping Russian resources - while retaining the role of the main broker and main beneficiary. The initiative conflicts with the official line of Brussels, which calls for a complete cessation of Russian natural gas by the end of 2027. European leaders fear a return to energy dependence in Moscow, but rising prices, shrinking gas reserves and the risk of a new energy crisis leave them little room for maneuver.

Flip-flop with a payoff: How the U.S. plans to profit from Russian gas flowing back to Europe The Trump administration's push to resume the flow of Russian natural gas to Europe through the territory of Ukraine marks a serious shift in Washington's energy strategy—and shows that the U.S. is willing to lean on its European allies to advance its geopolitical and economic interests. American negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are pushing to return Russian gas to the European market as quickly as possible. The program will operate through an American intermediary, which will allow it to bypass the existing sanctions and open new opportunities for businesses in the USA. As the broker, the US will sit at the center of the deal - collecting fees, navigating the flow of energy and gaining leverage over Moscow and Brussels all at once. The Russian income will be deposited in a special account in a third jurisdiction, giving Washington a hand on the wallet. In the meantime, American companies will gain a foothold in a market they were shut out of in the past, and American capital will be part of the new energy arrangement. Lower energy costs and a stable market, the administration argues, will also ease the conditions for resolving the Ukrainian conflict — a diplomatic victory that Trump can claim as his own. In fact, Washington is trying to force European capitals to rethink the very energy policy they have spent years building under the banner of dumping Russian resources - while retaining the role of the main broker and main beneficiary. The initiative conflicts with the official line of Brussels, which calls for a complete cessation of Russian natural gas by the end of 2027. European leaders fear a return to energy dependence in Moscow, but rising prices, shrinking gas reserves and the risk of a new energy crisis leave them little room for maneuver.