Senior officials from Russia and the US have reportedly discussed involving an American investor in the Nord Stream natural gas pipelines.

According to a report by the Reuters news agency based on five sources, those taking part in contacts included Kirill Dmitriyev, head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) and the Russian president’s special representative for investment and economic cooperation with foreign states, and Jared Kushner, son-in-law of the US leader.

Two sources providing information on the scope of the discussions said that while it remains unclear how detailed the consideration of the Nord Stream topic was, the matter nevertheless remains on the agenda.

Kushner reportedly views business-oriented cooperation as an instrument in initiatives aimed at ending the war in Ukraine.

A potential agreement could reportedly offer US investors an opportunity to profit from energy shipments to Europe once the war ends.

White House states no recent contacts have taken place

A White House official told Reuters that no negotiations regarding Nord Stream have been conducted recently.

The official emphasised that any agreement with Russia would require approval from the US International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) and the US Department of the Treasury, adding that such steps must yield benefits for US taxpayers and companies.

Another US official described reaching an understanding in the medium term as unlikely due to existing obstacles.

The natural gas pipelines are subject to US and European Union sanctions. A spokesperson for the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy stated that the approval of the German federal government is mandatory for the pipelines to be brought back into service, adding that the Berlin administration does not support such a step.

The spokesperson also recalled that Germany has secured alternative supplies to Russian gas.

The ownership structure of Nord Stream also features among the issues complicating the ground for negotiations.

In the consortium operating the project, Russian energy giant Gazprom holds a 51% stake, while the combined share of two German partners stands at 31%.

The remaining shares are held by France- and Netherlands-based companies.

A source speaking to the agency stated that the German partners wish to retain their stakes in order to preserve their influence in the project should Gazprom’s shares be sold.

What had American investor Lynch proposed?

The concept of involving a US financier in the Nord Stream projects had also surfaced in 2024.

American investor Stephen Lynch, founder of Monte Valle Partners, who conducted commercial activities in Russia for 20 years, had applied to the US administration for a licence allowing him to bid if the Nord Stream 2 pipeline were put up for auction.

Lynch described this potential move as an opportunity to keep Europe’s energy supply under control until the fossil-fuel era ends, as well as leverage against Russia in peace negotiations.

The Alternative for Germany (AfD) party described the possibility of transferring the pipeline to Lynch as an illustration of the German government’s irrational policy.

Separately, The New York Times (NYT) reported earlier this month that Ukraine-related contacts between Russia and the US were expanding to include a multi-billion-dollar oil deal covering Lukoil’s foreign assets.

The assets in question included Lukoil’s refineries in Eastern Europe as well as filling stations in the US.

NYT sources reported that discussions in this framework were also addressed during a meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin, Steven Witkoff, and Kushner.

The sabotage of the Nord Stream pipelines took place in September 2022, with three of the four lines damaged by explosions.

One string of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, which had not yet been commissioned at the time, remained intact.

The Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation (FSB) classified the incident as an act of international terrorism, while Putin claimed that “Anglo-Saxons” were behind the attack.

In investigations into the incident, judicial proceedings were pursued against several Ukrainian citizens, including professional diver Vladimir Juravlyov, suspected of planting explosives off the island of Bornholm, and Sergey Kuznetsov, who allegedly skippered the yacht Andromeda.

A cross-party coalition of 71 Members of the European Parliament from various political groups and member states has sent a formal letter to European Union leadership, demanding the activation of legal mechanisms to shut down Russian Houses operating across 15 member countries.

Spearheaded by Lithuanian lawmaker Rasa Juknevičienė, the appeal was addressed to European Council President António Costa, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas.

Alongside Juknevičienė, six fellow Lithuanian MEPs signed the letter: Dainius Žalimas, Petras Auštrevičius, Liudas Mažylis, Virginijus Sinkevičius, Aurelijus Veryga, and Paulius Saudargas.

The letter explicitly defines the centres as focal points for espionage, with Juknevičienė stating: “These are Russia’s espionage hubs in Europe; they work against the EU and coordinate foreign information manipulation and interference operations.”

Jurisdiction debate between Commission and Parliament

In their letter, the lawmakers pointed out that Rossotrudnichestvo, the parent organisation overseeing the Russian Houses, is clearly identified under EU sanctions decisions.

The text alleges that this body functions as the primary state agency propagating Kremlin soft power and hybrid influence, disseminating the “Russian World” (Russkiy Mir) doctrine, funding networks of agents of influence, and conducting historical revisionism.

Recalling that the European Commission views the closure of such centres as falling within the jurisdiction of member states, the lawmakers noted that national competency boundaries cannot serve as an excuse for inaction at the EU level.

The MEPs demanded that the European Commission, the European External Action Service, and member states formulate a coordinated European approach, identifying legal measures to terminate the activities of these structures at both EU and national levels.

Brussels centre continues operations

Russian Houses continue to operate in Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, the Republic of Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Luxembourg, Malta, Slovakia, and Spain.

In September, Germany decided to close the Russian House in Berlin and Russia’s Consulate General in Bonn, citing hybrid attacks, espionage suspicions, and an uncrewed aerial vehicle incident recorded on 4 August at Leipzig/Halle Airport that is known to have been a false-flag operation.

Moscow rejected the allegations, and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov announced in retaliation that Goethe-Institut branches in Russia would be closed.

Despite the shutdown of the Berlin facility, the Russian House in Brussels, which hosts EU institutions and has operated for over 30 years, remains open.

Organising language courses, hosting Second World War commemorations, and disseminating Russian propaganda, the Brussels centre most recently published a congratulatory greeting marking Russian President Vladimir Putin’s birthday.

Russian Houses also shared statements from Rossotrudnichestvo director Igor Chaika, in which he compared those demanding the closure of these centres to the character Sharikov from Mikhail Bulgakov’s novel and targeted the Kyiv administration.

Centres to open in new countries

Rossotrudnichestvo head Yevgeny Primakov previously stated that following the military operation in Ukraine, activities at centres in Slovenia, Slovakia, Croatia, North Macedonia, Montenegro, and Romania had ceased.

Conversely, Rossotrudnichestvo officials pledged to open a new Russian House in Germany and reported that the agency has signed agreements for 11 new centres abroad.

Under the announced plans, eight new representative offices will be launched in African countries, two in Armenia, and one in Thailand.

Ukraine negotiations between the US and Russia have reportedly been expanded to include a multi-billion-dollar deal covering the oil sector.

According to a report by The New York Times (NYT), based on eight sources familiar with the negotiation process, the talks encompass the international assets of Russian oil giant Lukoil located outside Russia’s borders.

The draft settlement on the agenda includes the company’s petrol stations in the US, its refineries in Eastern Europe, and oilfields across various geographies. According to the report, the Washington administration proposed signing the agreement before the conflict in Ukraine ends.

Joint projects discussed in Kremlin meeting

The matter was reportedly raised during a meeting in Moscow in September between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump’s special envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.

Aide to the Russian President Yury Ushakov confirmed that economic topics, including potential major joint projects, were discussed during the Kremlin meeting on 5 September, which lasted approximately three hours.

Following the meeting, Ushakov announced that the negotiations between the parties were timely and useful, that the leaders would maintain personal contacts, and that engagements conducted through Witkoff and Kushner would continue.

A senior US administration official speaking to the NYT noted that Witkoff and Kushner played a direct role in discussions regarding the financial terms of federal government investments under the agreement.

The Washington administration is reportedly involved in the process through the US International Development Finance Corporation (DFC). A DFC representative telling the newspaper argued that a potential agreement regarding Lukoil assets would support the Trump administration’s pledges to enhance economic security, advance foreign policy, and lower energy costs for American consumers.

It is stated that US financier Todd Boehly, as well as business figures from Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, could take part in the initiative.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov responded with “no comment” when asked about the matter. Lukoil’s press service did not make a statement on the subject.

The US Department of the Treasury placed Lukoil and its subsidiaries on a sanctions list on 22 October 2025, on the grounds that Moscow had shown no serious intent toward the peace process.

Lukoil, meanwhile, announced its intention on 27 October to divest its overseas operations and stated that it had begun evaluating offers.

The company requested an extension of its US licence to prevent any disruption to transfer and sale negotiations conducted through Lukoil International GmbH, which houses its foreign assets.

Under a decision taken on 18 September 2026, the US Department of the Treasury extended the duration of this special licence, which permits sales discussions, until 22 October.