Russian and European officials revealed that Moscow and Washington are negotiating the possibility of future cooperation with Gazprom in international projects, including the Arctic region.
The information appeared in the context of the US seeking to normalize relations with Russia and approach this important economic region.
The Arctic is increasingly attracting global attention because of its huge source of unexploited energy and minerals. The Arctic also has strategic trade routes.
Russia is developing the Northern Sea Road, the shortest transit route between western Europe and the Asia-Pacific region, running through the Arctic and the Far East. This transport route has been significantly modernized in recent years thanks to investment from India and China. The two countries are also holding shares in a number of energy projects in the Arctic.
A source told Bloomberg that Russia's state energy giant Gazprom could propose the US to participate in projects in the Arctic and some offshore projects such as the Sakhalin liquefied natural gas project if sanctions on restricting foreign investment are lifted.
An unnamed source said that negotiations between US and Russian representatives on cooperation with Gazprom are in the "preliminary contact" stage. It is not yet clear who is leading the discussions and it is not clear whether officials in the administration of US President Donald Trump will directly participate.
Cooperation between the US and Gazprom could include joint projects in Europe and Asia, many sources pointed out. The move could also boost business opportunities after reaching a peace agreement to end the Ukrainian conflict - something Donald Trump considers a top priority.
Earlier this week, German news agency correctiv reported that the US and Russia are negotiating a major deal that would allow Russia to continue energy exports. The multi-month discussion may concern US companies buying part of Nord Stream pipeline infrastructure and shares in three German refineries owned by a subsidiary of Russian energy giant Rosneft.
On March 13, President Vladimir Putin said Russia could resume gas exports to Europe via the underground pipeline after Moscow and Washington reached an agreement on energy cooperation.
The Nord Stream and Nord Stream 2 pipelines, which were built to transport Russian gas to Germany and other Western European countries, were destroyed in a reduction in the bottom of the Baltic Sea in September 2022.
