Discussions between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump are reportedly underway regarding the potential restoration of the Nord Stream pipelines, with oversight from Washington.
The negotiations are said to be informal and exclude the European Union. According to sources, the damaged Nord Stream and Nord Stream 2 pipelines, which suffered explosions in September 2022, have become part of broader geopolitical talks between Moscow and Washington.
Officially, the projects are considered effectively closed, and the pipelines remain non-operational. However, sources close to the Russian side indicate that there is a possibility of resuming gas supplies to Europe, albeit under US control.
As noted by Berliner Zeitung, there may be interest from American investors in either restoring or acquiring parts of the pipeline infrastructure. Investor Stephen Lynch, who has previously worked with Russian energy assets, is mentioned as a potential stakeholder.
In Germany, the official stance remains unchanged; Berlin continues to support the EU’s sanctions policy against Russia and does not consider the restoration of the pipelines. Nonetheless, reports of negotiations occurring without EU involvement have sparked discussions regarding the risks to Europe’s energy security.
Currently, there are no official confirmations from either Moscow or Washington regarding these discussions.
The Nord Stream pipeline system previously transported gas from Russia to Germany, which then distributed it to other European countries. Nord Stream 2 was intended to supply gas to Europe while bypassing Ukraine but was never operational due to Russia’s full-scale invasion. In September 2022, both pipelines were damaged in explosions on the Baltic Sea floor.
At the time of the explosions, the pipelines were viewed as a primary route for Russian gas supplies to Europe.
Ukrainians are suspected of involvement in the pipeline sabotage; in November 2025, German authorities arrested Ukrainian citizen Sergey Kuznetsov, who was extradited from Italy on charges of direct participation in the explosions. He is currently held in a German detention facility.
Negotiations between the US and Russia regarding the Nord Stream pipelines are reportedly taking place, potentially involving American investment in their restoration. Germany maintains its position against the pipelines, raising concerns about energy security in Europe.