Putin's opportunity: US discuss reviving Nord Stream 2 pipeline, media reports
Photo: Nord Stream 2 natural gas pipeline (Getty Images)
The administration of the US President is considering the possibility of partially reopening Russia's access to the European gas market, Politico reports.
The potential lifting of sanctions imposed on Nord Stream 2, one of the key Russian gas pipelines to Europe, would mark a sharp shift in US policy that began during Donald Trump's first presidential term. President Joe Biden lifted part of the restrictions in 2021 but reinstated them after Russia launched its full-scale aggression against Ukraine in 2022.
Restarting the pipeline would offer potential economic benefits for Russia, but only if the EU agrees to resume imports of Russian gas - a scenario that currently seems unlikely due to Brussels' energy strategy aimed at reducing dependence on Russia. At the same time, such a move would be seen as a significant diplomatic concession from the United States.
According to the media sources, the idea of lifting sanctions has been actively pushed by White House Special Envoy Steve Witkoff. Sources say he instructed his team to compile a list of all energy-related restrictions against Russia. Witkoff reportedly maintains close personal ties with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
One branch of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline remains technically operational despite damage sustained in 2022. The US has also imposed sanctions on another Russian energy project - the Arctic 2 liquefied natural gas project, which could deliver up to 13.2 million tons of gas a year
Despite internal debate within the administration, Witkoff's initiative is not supported by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum, who believe that the return of Russian gas to the European market threatens American liquefied natural gas (LNG) producers. According to analysts, it would significantly reduce the global competitiveness of American LNG.
Among the lobbyists promoting the idea of lifting the sanctions is American investor Stephen Lynch, known for acquiring Russian energy assets. Working in parallel on restarting the pipeline with US support is Matthias Warnig, a close ally of Putin who is currently under sanctions.
The White House, State Department, and other official bodies have so far refrained from making public comments on the matter.
Nord Stream 2 is a pipeline project designed to connect Russia and Germany via the Baltic Sea, bypassing Ukraine as a transit country. The pipeline consists of two lines with a total capacity of 55 billion cubic meters of gas per year. Its total length is 1,200 kilometers
In March, Germany denied the possibility of resuming the operation of Nord Stream 2.
