Negotiations, sanctions and markets: when will Gazprom be allowed back into Europe

Alexey Gromov, Principal Director on Energy studies at the Institute for Energy and Finance, gave a detailed commentary to the Novye Izvestia Internet portal on the prospects of lifting some Western sanctions in the fuel and energy sector from Russia in case of normalizing relations with the United States.

— Considering that everything is happening even much faster than we think, it seems to me that the lifting or easing of American sanctions is possible, but the parties will move towards this very gradually and carefully. It is unrealistic to say that all US sanctions will be lifted," Alexey Gromov expresses cautious optimism.

The fastest way to increase gas volumes for Europe, Alexey Gromov says, is to restore Ukrainian transit. This does not even require concluding a trilateral agreement with Ukraine and the EU. It is enough to ensure that Ukrainian gas transmission facilities are booked either by Ukrainian companies or Gazprom to transfer gas to Europeans.

— The suffering of Europe and the search for scarce gas only benefit Americans, because prices on the European market will rise. The years 2026-2027 are just around the corner, high gas prices will develop in Europe, and then Americans will come there with their projects, the market will provide them with high profitability, and they will receive their high economic margin. Trump has no reason to ease the situation for Russian hydrocarbons. I am sure that this block of sanctions pressure will remain unchanged," Alexey Gromov notes.