Nord Stream pipeline won't reopen after the war, Brussels tells the US and Russia

Nord Stream is an underwater pipeline system built to carry Russian natural gas directly to Germany across more than 1,200 kilometres. It became a major symbol of Europe’s dependence on Russian energy. That dependence later became a security concern after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine and the resulting energy crisis.

Nord Stream 1 has been inoperable since an explosion in mid-2022. Nord Stream 2 never entered service because the German government did not certify it. Both pipelines are also covered by EU sanctions, preventing a straightforward return to normal operations.

The European Commission now says Russian gas will be phased out regardless of whether the war ends. Pipeline gas contracts, including those previously associated with Nord Stream, are scheduled to end by September 2027. This makes the pipeline’s future politically and commercially uncertain, even amid reported US-Russian plans to restart flows.

Europe’s reliance on Russian pipeline gas fell sharply after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The article states that Russian pipeline gas represented around 40% of Europe’s supply in 2021. By 2025, its share had dropped to around 6%, showing how quickly the bloc changed its energy sourcing.

The reduction came through a broad phase-out strategy. European countries reduced purchases from Moscow and turned heavily to alternatives, especially more expensive American liquefied natural gas. The change was driven not only by market conditions, but also by the security risks associated with relying on Russia for a vital fuel.

The remaining dependence is scheduled to disappear under EU legislation. Pipeline-gas contracts will be phased out by September 2027. The shift has reduced Russia’s role in Europe’s energy system, but it has also raised supply costs and made replacement energy more expensive.

The European Commission rejects a return to Russian gas because dependence created hidden political and economic costs. It says Russia weaponised energy supplies, leaving Europe exposed when Moscow cut deliveries. The invasion also caused an energy-price surge and record-high bills, reinforcing the argument that supply security matters as much as price.

The key mechanism is EU legislation approved by member states to phase out all Russian gas imports by the end of 2027. The rule is not tied to sanctions or to a particular geopolitical event, according to the Commission. It therefore continues to apply even if the war in Ukraine ends.

Short-term LNG contracts are already phased out, while long-term LNG contracts end by January 2027. Pipeline-gas contracts are due to end by September 2027. The Commission says the final shipments should be finished by the end of next year, making a Nord Stream restart incompatible with current rules.

The EU’s phase-out rules establish separate deadlines for different Russian gas contracts. They are designed to remove Russian gas from the European market rather than wait for sanctions or diplomatic developments to change. The Commission says the legislation applies regardless of what happens in the war or peace process.

Short-term LNG contracts have already been phased out. Long-term LNG contracts must end by January 2027. Pipeline-gas contracts, including those previously connected with Nord Stream, face the final deadline: September 2027.

These dates create a legal barrier to proposals for restarting Russian gas flows. The Commission says the last shipments should be completed by the end of next year. Changing or abolishing the legislation would require a new Commission proposal and a qualified majority among EU member states, while most countries still view purchases from Moscow as a security risk.

Replacing Russian pipeline gas can increase Europe’s energy costs because alternative supplies may be more expensive. The article specifically says countries turned heavily to American LNG, which came with a hefty price tag. Gas bills had already reached record highs after Russia’s invasion triggered a surge in energy prices.

The mechanism is partly financial and logistical. Russian pipeline gas reached Europe through direct infrastructure, while replacement supplies such as LNG require different contracts and delivery arrangements. The article does not provide a precise future price estimate, but it clearly links the shift to higher costs for consumers and businesses.

Supply can continue, but the cost structure changes. Europe’s Russian pipeline-gas share fell from around 40% in 2021 to around 6% in 2025, while alternatives filled much of the gap. The planned phase-out will keep that pressure in place unless cheaper replacement sources become available.

Europe needs alternatives because EU legislation is ending Russian pipeline-gas and LNG imports. The article specifically identifies American LNG as a major replacement source. It also quotes Germany’s chancellor saying the country’s energy supply can be safeguarded only with renewable sources.

LNG is delivered as a seaborne fuel rather than through the old Russian pipeline system, allowing Europe to buy gas from another supplier. Renewable energy provides a different route by reducing reliance on gas itself. The article does not name additional suppliers, pipelines, or energy technologies, so those details cannot be established from the text.

The transition is already visible in the figures. Russian pipeline gas fell from around 40% of Europe’s supply in 2021 to around 6% in 2025. American LNG has helped fill the gap, but the article says it is more expensive. Renewables are presented as the longer-term supply safeguard.

Natural gas is a fossil fuel used for heating, electricity, and industry. Liquefied natural gas, or LNG, is natural gas cooled until it becomes a liquid, allowing it to be transported by ship and then converted back into gas. LNG can therefore reach markets that are not connected by a pipeline.

Dependence on one supplier creates economic risk because supply cuts can cause shortages and higher prices. It also creates political risk when the supplier can use energy deliveries to pressure another country. The Commission says Russia weaponised fossil-fuel dependence, and Europe paid the price through an energy-price surge and record-high bills.

Nord Stream illustrates that danger. Europe relied heavily on Russian pipeline gas, with a share of around 40% in 2021. After the invasion and supply disruptions, the share fell to around 6% in 2025. Europe now uses alternatives, including American LNG and renewable energy, despite higher costs.