EU law leaves little room for Washington’s energy dealmaking. US President Donald Trump’s reported push to revive Russian gas exports to Europe through Ukraine is a “fantasy” that stands little chance of succeeding, as it conflicts with European legislation and efforts to end the bloc’s dependence on Moscow, a TVP World analyst has warned. Marcin Zaborowski, TVP World’s Europe editor, told the News in Depth program that Washington appeared to be prioritizing commercial dealmaking over Europe’s long-term energy security, despite years of US pressure on European countries to reduce their reliance on Russian supplies. Europe unlikely to reverse course The proposal, reportedly put forward by Trump’s envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, would restore Ukraine’s role as a transit country for Russian gas, potentially generating revenue for Kyiv while creating an incentive for an energy ceasefire. But Zaborowski argued that reversing the EU’s energy policy would require legislative changes and political support that, in his assessment, does not exist. “It cannot happen. It's just simply it's unworkable,” he said, adding that the EU has adopted a legal framework to phase out Russian gas imports. Washington’s commercial calculations Zaborowski suggested that Washington might also be seeking to position US intermediaries between Russian suppliers and European buyers, allowing them to profit from transactions without producing or transporting the gas themselves. He argued that such an arrangement could undermine American liquefied natural gas exporters, which have benefited from Europe’s shift away from Russian supplies. The analyst also suggested that the initiative might be intended to reassure Vladimir Putin of Washington’s willingness to restore economic ties with Moscow. However, he stressed that European opposition was unlikely to soften. “There is absolutely no will and no appetite to do it in Europe,” Zaborowski said.
