WASHINGTON (CHATNEWSTV) — Close allies of Russian President Vladimir Putin and figures linked to U.S President Donald Trump have reportedly held secret talks to revive the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, which was sabotaged in 2022, according to a UK Daily Mail report.
The discussions, allegedly taking place in Switzerland, aim to bring Russian gas back to Western Europe despite existing sanctions and geopolitical tensions stemming from Moscow’s war in Ukraine. If successful, the deal could see U.S. investors acquiring a stake in the pipeline’s operating company, allowing them to profit if Russian gas flows resume, according to the report.
Matthias Warnig, a former East German intelligence officer and longtime Putin confidant who ran Nord Stream 2 before its financial collapse in 2023, is said to have brokered the negotiations. Richard Grenell, Trump’s former ambassador to Germany, is reportedly leading the U.S. side, with businessman Stephen Lynch named as a potential investor.
Both Grenell and Warnig have denied involvement in the talks, while Lynch has not commented, according to the Daily Mail.
Nord Stream 2, an $11 billion project, was heavily opposed by the Trump administration, which sought to replace European dependence on Russian energy with American liquefied natural gas. In 2022, three of the pipeline’s four strands were severely damaged in an act of sabotage, triggering widespread speculation over the perpetrators.
Despite the reported discussions, reviving the pipeline faces steep challenges. One of its two main conduits remains intact, but repairing the damaged sections could cost upwards of $100 million. The company behind Nord Stream 2 is also under financial strain, with limited time to settle billions of dollars in debt.
Politically, the German government has shown no interest in restarting Nord Stream 2, having suspended its certification just before Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Any move to relaunch the project would likely face resistance from Berlin, Ukraine, and other European allies wary of increasing reliance on Moscow for energy.
The report comes amid speculation about Trump’s evolving stance on Russia. During his first term, he aggressively opposed Nord Stream 2, warning that it made Germany “captive” to Russian energy. His potential return to the White House in 2025, however, has fueled suggestions that U.S.-Russia energy relations could shift.
The reported talks follow previous claims that Ukrainian operatives orchestrated the 2022 Nord Stream sabotage using a yacht, diving gear, and light explosives. Ukraine’s government has denied involvement.
With tensions in Europe still high and sanctions on Moscow firmly in place, any deal involving Nord Stream 2 would likely face significant scrutiny from Western governments and financial institutions.
