Germany considers restarting the Nord Stream pipelines amid US interest; Ukraine advocates for US involvement in managing the Zaporozhye Nuclear Plant; and European peacekeepers in post-conflict Ukraine remain a contentious issue. These stories topped Friday’s newspaper headlines across Russia, according to TASS news agency.
Izvestia: Germany considers Nord Stream pipelines restoration amid US and business interest
Certain political circles and business groups in Germany are discussing the possibility of reviving the Nord Stream pipelines or using the undamaged branch of Nord Stream 2, the Russian Embassy in Berlin told Izvestia. Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak clarified that the pipeline’s intact branch remains operational. The future of the Nord Stream pipelines is also being discussed between Russia and the United States. Additionally, gas deliveries through the Yamal-Europe pipeline remain technically feasible, although Polish authorities have not indicated any plans to reinitiate operations along this route, the Russian Embassy in Warsaw told Izvestia.
"Representatives of German businesses, certain Bundestag deputies, as well as regional politicians are urging the German federal government to adopt a pragmatic approach and restart imports of Russian energy resources. These supplies ensured Germany’s energy security for decades, supporting household well-being and the global competitiveness of German industry. However, there are no visible signs that Berlin is reconsidering its current stance, which continues to prioritize political considerations over national economic interests," the Russian diplomatic mission stated.
At the same time, the embassy added, "Repeated Russian requests on this matter, including proposals for an independent international investigation with our participation under the auspices of the United Nations Security Council, have produced no outcomes. This raises serious doubts about Berlin’s true interest in identifying and holding accountable those responsible for the attacks on one of Europe’s most vital infrastructure assets."
Against this backdrop, Brussels remains focused on phasing out Russian fossil fuel imports, including natural gas.
"The European Commission remains committed to the gradual phase-out of Russian fossil fuel imports. We are fully committed to this objective, and our work on the plan continues. We remain determined to follow through with it," the European Commission told Izvestia.
Although the European Union has partially replaced Russian gas, it has primarily been forced to reduce overall consumption. According to Igor Yushkov, an expert at the Financial University under the Russian Government and the National Energy Security Fund, gas consumption in the EU declined by approximately 90 bln cubic meters between 2022 and 2023. This downturn rendered many industrial enterprises unprofitable, leading to widespread closures.
Nezavisimaya Gazeta: Zaporozhye NPP at the center of US-Ukraine talks amid heightened tensions
Despite the management of the Zaporozhye NPP (ZNPP) recently refuting Kiev’s claims that Russian personnel had damaged a fuel reservoir at the facility, Ukrainian analysts continue to push the narrative that Russian control over the plant poses safety risks. Kiev is determined to keep the issue of ZNPP’s potential transfer under US control on the agenda as part of a broader agreement concerning Ukraine’s resources, Nezavisimaya Gazeta reports. According to US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, this agreement - previously criticized by Ukrainian experts as exploitative - has expanded from an initial four-page document to 60 pages and could be signed as early as next week.
During a recent briefing, Vladimir Zelensky stated that Russia would be unable to relaunch ZNPP without Ukraine’s assistance. He also revealed that he had discussed with US President Donald Trump the possibility of shared management of the plant should Washington assist Kiev in securing it and invest in its upgrading. Meanwhile, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Grossi told reporters that ZNPP is efficiently managed and operated by Russia. In his assessment, if hostilities cease, the plant’s reactors could be gradually reactivated within a few months.
Igor Yushkov, a leading analyst at the National Energy Security Fund and the Financial University under the Russian Government, told Nezavisimaya Gazeta that the arguments presented by Ukrainian energy experts appeared dubious. As he explained, nuclear power plants require a constant energy supply for reactor cooling, and diesel generators serve as a critical backup system - necessitating stored fuel for operation.
"In other words, Russia would have no logical reason to destroy a backup power supply system designed to ensure the safety of its own nuclear facility," Yushkov noted. "It seems that Kiev is eager to portray Russia as incapable of managing a nuclear power plant. The Ukrainian authorities have also promised the US access to ZNPP, ostensibly to help take control of the facility from Moscow. However, it appears that US officials are more interested in securing influence over Ukraine’s three remaining nuclear power plants," he added.
He further suggested that under the resource agreement currently being discussed, Washington may not even seek direct ownership of Ukraine’s aging nuclear plants. "Most likely, the US is interested in keeping these plants under Ukrainian state ownership while allowing American companies to participate in selling the electricity they generate. Such an arrangement would also align with one of President Donald Trump’s campaign promises - to recoup the funds Washington has spent on supporting Kiev," Yushkov concluded.
Nezavisimaya Gazeta: Debate over post-conflict troop presence in Ukraine continues
At the latest summit of the so-called "coalition of the willing" in Paris, as expected, discussions focused on continued military support for Ukraine following the end of hostilities on its territory. A proposal spearheaded by France and the United Kingdom envisions European troops acting as de facto peacekeepers to ensure stability. However, the specific countries willing to participate and the number of foreign troops to be stationed in Ukraine remain subjects of ongoing debate, Nezavisimaya Gazeta reports.
While Moscow strongly opposes the deployment of European peacekeepers in Ukraine, Vladimir Zelensky stated in Paris that military staff from Ukraine and European Union countries are holding consultations on the possible presence of such a post-conflict contingent, its structure, and its size. He emphasized that the purpose of these friendly forces would be to maintain supervision, monitor the situation, and conduct joint training exercises, rather than drawing other nations into the war.
"If the ‘coalition of the willing’ is indeed considering stationing troops in Ukraine after the conflict ends, several critical questions arise. For instance, under the auspices of which international organization do they intend to operate?" retired Lieutenant General, military expert Yuri Netkachev told the newspaper. "If Russia opposes the initiative, it is unlikely that such a deployment would proceed under the United Nations’ mandate. If conducted under the authority of NATO or the European Union, this would create additional conditions for future conflicts," he added.
Netkachev warned that any provocation, misstep, or emergency involving these European peacekeepers could escalate into a large-scale confrontation, obligating the nations that deployed their forces to actively participate in the conflict.
According to the expert, Ukraine’s European partners are deliberately exploring such scenarios in an effort to "prolong the hostilities between Ukraine and Russia, thereby weakening Russia and bringing about its defeat." As an example, he pointed to recent remarks by French President Emmanuel Macron, who pledged to supply Kiev with new types of offensive weaponry. Western media reports indicate that during his meeting with Zelensky in Paris, Macron announced France would allocate an additional 2 bln euro in support of Ukraine.
Izvestia: Russia willing to reopen parliamentary dialogue with the US
Russia is prepared to reinitiate dialogue with the United States at the parliamentary level, representatives of both the State Duma and the Federation Council told Izvestia. Among the key topics lawmakers could discuss are economic cooperation, cultural exchanges, and sports, according to the lower house of parliament. Against the backdrop of high-level discussions between the leadership of both nations, various channels of communication have begun to show renewed activity.
If the US side presents relevant proposals on parliamentary interaction, they will be given due consideration, Deputy Chairman of the Federation Council Konstantin Kosachev told Izvestia.
"The fact is, we have never unilaterally severed interparliamentary dialogue with any foreign nation, including those classified as unfriendly, such as the US. All bilateral interparliamentary engagements currently in a dormant state were suspended at the initiative of the other side. This applies to dialogue between Russian and American senators as well. Therefore, if and when our American colleagues recognize that interparliamentary dialogue is a highly effective mechanism for advancing bilateral relations, we will always be ready to respond - of that, there is no doubt," Kosachev stated. However, he clarified that the Federation Council has yet to receive any such signals from Washington.
Alexey Chepa, First Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Committee on International Affairs, also told the newspaper that while no formal proposals for dialogue have been received from members of the US House of Representatives, certain informal signals have emerged through select channels.
The State Duma, according to Deputy Chairman Vladislav Davankov, stands prepared to reengage in parliamentary diplomacy with the US. "Dialogue is always beneficial. The fact that high-level contacts have resumed gives us cautious optimism," he told Izvestia.
If Russian-US cooperation is to be fully restored, it would naturally encompass interparliamentary engagement, which first requires the necessary conditions - most importantly, rebuilding the infrastructure for dialogue, First Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Committee on International Affairs Dmitry Novikov told the newspaper.
Kommersant: Russia’s natural gas output declines by over 11% in February amid export cuts
The rate of decrease in Russia’s natural gas production is accelerating, with output falling by more than 11% in February and registering a 7.3% year-over-year drop for the first two months of 2025. The contraction is even more significant among "other producers," a category primarily reflecting Gazprom’s performance, which saw a 13.2% drop. Analysts attribute the decline to the halt of gas transit through Ukraine, unseasonably warm temperatures, and waning demand from energy-intensive industries, Kommersant writes.
The production downturn has been significantly influenced by the suspension of Russian gas transit via Ukraine as of January 1, which had previously facilitated the export of approximately 15 bcm of gas annually. Gazprom is now left with only one pipeline route to Europe - the TurkStream pipeline, with a capacity of just under 16 bcm per year. Meanwhile, Russia continues to supply the European market with liquefied natural gas (LNG).
Among independent gas producers, Novatek reduced its February output by 1.5% to 6.4 bcm, bringing its total production for the first two months of the year to 13.6 bcm, a 1.4% year-on-year decline. Lukoil’s production fell by 13.3% in February to 1.3 bcm, reflecting a cumulative reduction of 9.7%, bringing the total to 2.8 bcm since the beginning of the year. Rosneft recorded a 14% decrease in gas production last month, bringing its output down to 5.5 bcm.
Alexey Grivach, Deputy Director of the National Energy Security Fund, emphasized that weakened demand remains the primary factor behind the production decline, exacerbated by unseasonably warm weather and the closure of the Ukrainian gas transit route. He noted that some of the lost exports were offset by the Power of Siberia pipeline reaching its full capacity of 38 bcm per year.
A source cited by Kommersant suggested that declining gas consumption may also be linked to a contraction in energy-intensive industries - such as steel production, construction materials, and basic chemicals - amid a broader slowdown in Russia’s economic activity.
According to Grivach, unless there are major changes in export dynamics or extreme weather conditions in the summer, the current production trend is unlikely to shift dramatically.
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