Russian gas exports to Europe were slashed after the pipelines under the Baltic Sea were blown up in 2022. At the start of this year, gas flows via Ukraine came to a halt after Kyiv refused to renew a transit agreement because of the war.

Now, however, US President Donald Trump is pushing for peace in Ukraine, raising the prospects of a thaw in gas ties. Eight sources familiar with the talks have told Reuters that officials from Washington and Moscow have held discussions about the US helping to revive Russian gas sales to the continent.

Sources close to the bilateral discussions said carving out a renewed role for Moscow in the EU’s gas market could help cement a peace deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

“We are raising this issue with the Americans,” Interfax news agency quoted senior Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov as saying in when asked if the revival of Russian gas supplies was under discussion.