The New York Times, citing sources, reports: the administration of US President Donald Trump intends to include in the plan to ensure peace in Ukraine a proposal to the European Union to resume purchases of Russian gas. According to the publication's assessment, this step could radically change US energy policy, which has taken shape over many years, and is therefore called a key element of a large-scale plan.
According to the American side's design, Europe should return to purchasing Russian gas, and in substantially larger volumes. In addition, the Trump administration considers restarting the underwater gas pipeline ("Nord Stream" - Ed.) a "readily achievable goal" if a peace agreement is concluded, the newspaper writes.
The day before, the US president ordered that part of the measures provided for by the law on "hellish sanctions" against Russia and Iran not be applied. This refers to the bill by the late Senator Lindsey Graham*, which was supposed to take effect today. The refusal concerns the tariff of up to 500 percent on direct imports from Russia and up to 100 percent on goods from the five largest countries purchasing energy resources from Moscow, as well as restrictions against officials, banks and organizations provided for by this law.
A week earlier, Trump held a telephone conversation with Vladimir Putin and, following its results, announced a large-scale agreement on diesel fuel supplies. For this, the US Treasury issued an exception to sanctions valid until April 7.
The next day, the Russian government partially lifted the ban on the export of this fuel. Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said: in October Moscow is ready to supply 300,000 tons of diesel to the American and world markets, in November another 500,000, and in December up to a million. Trump noted that the deal is needed not only by the US but by the whole world, since thanks to it prices for this type of fuel will begin to decline at record rates.
* Added by Rosfinmonitoring to the list of terrorists and extremists.