Reuters: Russian and US officials discussed a US investor for Nord Stream pipelines
In short
Senior Russian and US officials have held talks on bringing an American investor into the Nord Stream gas pipelines, Reuters reported citing unnamed sources, as relayed by Russian outlets on 8 October. Russian presidential special envoy Kirill Dmitriev and Jared Kushner, son-in-law of US President Donald Trump, took part, the sources said. A White House representative said there had been no recent discussions about Nord Stream.
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Senior Russian and US officials have held talks on bringing an American investor into the Nord Stream gas pipelines, Reuters reported citing unnamed sources, as relayed on 8 October by RBC, RIA Novosti, Kommersant, Meduza and Vedomosti. Vedomosti said the agency cited five sources. According to them, Kirill Dmitriev, the Russian president's special envoy for investment and economic cooperation and head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund, and Jared Kushner, son-in-law of US President Donald Trump, took part. Meduza noted that both are also involved in talks on ending the Russia–Ukraine war. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
A White House representative told Reuters that there had been no recent discussions about Nord Stream. Kommersant quoted the representative as saying that any deals would have to be agreed by Russia with the US International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) and the US Treasury and bring benefits to American taxpayers and companies. RIA Novosti noted that neither side had officially confirmed the talks. [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]
According to several sources, the topic remains on the agenda, while another source told Reuters that a deal is unlikely in the medium term, Meduza reported. Dmitriev and Kushner met in Moscow and New York in recent weeks, but it is unclear how detailed their Nord Stream discussion was. Reuters reported that Kushner sees business as key to restoring peace, and that a deal would let US investors profit from energy supplies to Europe after the war ends. [ 3 , 4 , 5 ]
Kommersant, citing Reuters, reported that Kushner and Dmitriev also discussed selling several Lukoil assets, from refineries to filling stations in Europe and elsewhere, possibly to a consortium including the DFC and investors from Qatar and the UAE, with the US lifting sanctions on the assets. The US sanctioned Lukoil in October 2025; a January 2026 agreement to sell its foreign assets to Carlyle stalled amid US interagency approvals. [ 3 ]
Dmitriev favours resuming Russian gas sales to Germany and in September met representatives of the US energy and finance departments, Meduza reported. Vedomosti recalled that on 19 September Dmitriev said Russia could restore Nord Stream in cooperation with the Alternative for Germany party, and that CNN reported on 25 September that he had negotiated with US special envoy Steven Witkoff and Kushner. [ 4 , 5 ]
Before the war most of Germany's gas came from Russia through the two pipelines; supplies stopped and the pipelines came under EU and US sanctions, Meduza wrote. RIA Novosti recalled that explosions hit both pipelines on 26 September 2022 and that Russia's Prosecutor General's Office opened an international terrorism case. [ 2 , 4 ]
Why it matters
Business outlets report that such a deal would let American investors profit from energy supplies to Europe after the war ends, according to Reuters. The pipelines once carried Russian gas to Germany and are under EU and US sanctions, and Meduza writes that Germany and other European countries are expected to oppose a resumption of supplies. Neither side has officially confirmed the talks.
Key facts
- Reuters, citing unnamed sources, reported that senior Russian and US officials held talks on bringing a US investor into the Nord Stream pipelines. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
- Vedomosti said Reuters cited five sources. [ 5 ]
- Participants included Russian presidential special envoy Kirill Dmitriev and Jared Kushner, son-in-law of the US president. [ 3 , 4 , 5 ]
- A White House representative said there had been no recent discussions about Nord Stream. [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- The White House said any deal would have to be agreed with US authorities; Kommersant quotes it as naming the DFC and the US Treasury and requiring benefits for US taxpayers and companies. [ 3 , 4 ]
- According to several sources, the topic remains on the agenda. [ 2 , 4 ]
- Kushner and Dmitriev also discussed the sale of several Lukoil assets, from refineries to filling stations in Europe and elsewhere, Kommersant reported citing Reuters. [ 3 ]
- Neither side has officially confirmed the talks, RIA Novosti noted. [ 2 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Reuters reported that senior Russian and US officials discussed bringing an American investor into the Nord Stream pipelines. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
- Kirill Dmitriev and Jared Kushner took part in the discussions, according to Reuters' sources. [ 3 , 4 , 5 ]
- A White House representative said there had been no recent discussions about Nord Stream. [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- Kushner believes business plays a key role in restoring peace, according to Reuters. [ 3 , 4 , 5 ]
- A deal would allow US investors to profit from energy supplies to Europe after the war ends, according to Reuters. [ 4 , 5 ]
Still unclear
- Whether the talks took place as described. The reports rest on unnamed sources; the White House said there had been no recent discussions, and neither side has officially confirmed them.
- How detailed the Nord Stream discussion was at the Dmitriev–Kushner meetings in Moscow and New York. Meduza says this is unclear from the Reuters report.
- Whether a deal is likely. One source told Reuters a deal is unlikely in the medium term, while others said the topic remains on the agenda.
- How interested Washington is in resuming Russian gas supplies to Germany. Meduza says this is unclear.
- A possible sale of Lukoil assets to a consortium including the DFC and investors from Qatar and the UAE. Reported only by Kommersant, citing Reuters.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- RBC reports the Reuters account of Russia–US talks on Nord Stream. [ 1 ]
- RIA Novosti relays the report along with the White House statement that there were no recent discussions. [ 2 ]
- Kommersant names Kushner and Dmitriev as participants and reports talks on Lukoil assets. [ 3 ]
- Meduza reports the topic remains on the agenda and that Dmitriev and Kushner met in Moscow and New York. [ 4 ]
- Vedomosti reports Reuters cited five sources. [ 5 ]