Peace through pipelines? Washington's strategy

On October 17, 2026, the New York Times reported that Donald Trump's envoys urged Ukraine and European capitals to consider resuming Russian gas flows through Ukraine's pipelines as part of a peace deal. The underlying assumption is that both Moscow and Kyiv would benefit commercially, potentially leading to a ceasefire. Discussions also included activating the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, which the White House denies. Ukraine's interest in ending hostilities has grown, with President Zelensky proposing various ceasefire terms. Despite ongoing conflict, Ukraine allowed Russian gas transit for financial reasons. However, the U.S. plan may misinterpret Russia's geopolitical motivations, as Putin's actions are driven by historical myths and nationalism rather than economic interests. Additionally, EU regulations set to phase out Russian gas imports complicate any potential agreements. The notion that energy cooperation could bring peace is seen as naive, as the root cause of insecurity in…