Energy — 2026-10-29

Brussels Tells US and Russia Nord Stream Pipeline Will Not Reopen After War

BLUFEU phase-out legislation gives Brussels an effective veto over any US-Russian Nord Stream restart, forcing Washington to choose between its deal-making leverage with Moscow and its alignment with European allies.

European Commission spokespeople said on Wednesday that EU law bars any resumption of Russian gas imports after the war, responding to reports of a US-Russian plan to restart Nord Stream with a US investor 12. Chief spokesperson Paula Pinho cited legislation in place and Ursula von der Leyen's statement that energy sanctions stay until Russia ends the war 13. Energy spokesperson Anna-Kaisa Itkonen said the phase-out law is independent of sanctions or geopolitical events, with final shipments due by the end of 2027 34. Euronews reported long-term LNG contracts end in January 2027 and pipeline gas contracts by September 2027 1. Ukrainska Pravda and LIGA.net reported Itkonen also said whether the pipeline operates is not for the Commission to decide 24.

Analysis
The Commission has closed the legal path for any US-Russian plan to route gas to Europe through Nord Stream, so a restart now depends on changing EU law. Repeal would need a new Commission proposal and a qualified majority of member states, and most capitals still reject Russian supply on security grounds. Itkonen's remark that the pipeline's status is not the Commission's decision leaves room for a private or bilateral effort, but that effort could not deliver gas into the bloc while the ban stands. Washington may offer the project as an incentive in the Abu Dhabi talks, putting it in direct conflict with Brussels. Confidence is moderate: Commission statements are consistent, but they trace to one Euronews-originated briefing repeated by four outlets, with no primary transcript and no independent reporting on the US-Russian proposal. The statements may also be meant to deter Washington during talks, since member-state views could shift and the phase-out law could be amended.

5 sources

Nord Stream pipeline will not reopen after the war, Brussels tells the US and Russia - Euronews
The EU will not resume Russian gas imports via Nord Stream after the war - LIGA.net
European Commission rules out resumption of Russian gas supplies to EU - Interfax-Ukraine
EU will not resume Russian gas imports after war ends, European Commission says - Ukrainska Pravda
EU Law Bars Resumption of Russian Fossil Fuel Supplies, European Commission Says - BTA