Secret talks? Putin and Trump allegedly discuss reviving Nord Stream pipelines
US and Russian leaders — Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin (Photo: Getty Images)
Russian leader Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump are holding discussions about a possible restoration of the Nord Stream gas pipelines, but under Washington’s control, according to Berliner Zeitung.
US has plans for Nord Streams
The negotiations are unofficial and are taking place without the EU's participation.
According to the Berliner Zeitung, the issue of the Nord Stream and Nord Stream 2 pipelines, which were damaged in explosions in September 2022, has allegedly become part of broader geopolitical consultations between Moscow and Washington.
Officially, the project is considered effectively closed, and the pipelines remain unusable. At the same time, according to sources close to the Russian side, a possible option to restore gas supplies to Europe is being discussed, but it is already under US control.
As noted by the Berliner Zeitung, this could involve American investors participating in restoring or purchasing part of the infrastructure. Among potential interested parties is investor Steven Lynch, who previously worked with Russian energy assets.
Germany’s official position remains unchanged — EU sanctions policy against Russia is supported by Germany, and the country is not considering restoring pipeline operations. At the same time, information about potential negotiations without EU participation has sparked debate over the risks to Europe’s energy security.
There is currently no official confirmation from Vladimir Putin or Donald Trump.
Background of the Nord Stream pipelines
The Nord Stream 1 pipeline transported gas from Russia to Germany, which then distributed it to other European countries. The Nord Stream 2 pipeline, which was being built to supply gas to Europe, bypassing Ukraine, never became operational due to Russia’s full-scale invasion. In September 2022, both pipelines were blown up at the bottom of the Baltic Sea.
At that time, the pipelines were considered the main route for supplying Russian gas to Europe.
Ukrainians are suspected of pipeline sabotage — in November 2025, German law enforcement arrested Ukrainian citizen Serhii Kuznetsov. He was extradited from Italy on charges of direct involvement in the explosions and is currently being held in a detention center in Germany.
The second suspect is Ukrainian Volodymyr Zhuravlov. Although Germany requested his extradition, a Polish court refused the request in October 2025 and released him.
Recently, the media reported that a group of Ukrainians linked to the pipeline sabotage allegedly discussed their plan with officers of the US intelligence agency Central Intelligence Agency.
