US and Russia discuss US investor for Nord Stream gas pipelines

US and Russian officials, including US envoy Jared Kushner and Putin adviser Kirill Dmitriev, have discussed bringing a US investor into the Nord Stream pipelines, potentially renewing Russian gas flows to Europe after the Ukraine war. The talks face major obstacles, as the pipelines are sanctioned by the US and EU, making any restart illegal without waivers. Germany, which sourced over half its gas from Russia before the 2022 invasion, strongly opposes reopening, though the far-right AfD party supports it. Any deal would require complex ownership negotiations, as Gazprom holds 51% of the pipeline company. Discussions also include a separate plan for US investors to buy Lukoil's European assets, with White House officials emphasizing deals must benefit US taxpayers.