Kremlin Downplays Prospect of Resuming Gas Shipments to Europe via Ukraine

The Kremlin says Russian gas deliveries to Europe through Ukraine are unlikely to resume soon, despite reports that the route was discussed as part of a proposed winter energy ceasefire. Dmitry Peskov said current conditions make such plans impossible to implement, while leaving open the possibility of future shipments.

The reported proposal would have routed gas sales through a US intermediary, with payments held in escrow, while allowing Ukraine to collect transit fees and potentially easing European heating costs. Pipeline deliveries have largely stopped since Russia’s 2022 invasion; the EU plans to end Russian oil and gas imports by the end of 2027. Russia supplied 11% of Europe’s gas, down from 45% before the invasion, though EU imports reached 6.9 billion cubic metres in the first quarter of 2026, 16% higher than a year earlier.