Despite not having any say in the matter, Poland, unsurprisingly, has strongly rejected any notion of Europe turning back to Russian gas as a bargaining chip for peace in Ukraine, doubling down on its call for tougher sanctions against Moscow’s energy sector.
Officials in Warsaw warn that rekindling dependence on Russian gas would be a strategic mistake and have urged other nations to steer clear of such a move.
Speaking on January 29, Polish European Affairs Minister Adam Szłapka reaffirmed Poland’s firm stance, stating, “We want tougher sanctions against Russian gas to include LNG sales. Poland has no intention of going back to Russian gas in any shape or form, nor would it advise anyone else to do so.”
Poland has already cut ties with Russian gas, having invested in infrastructure like the Baltic Pipe to tap into Norwegian supplies and securing long-term LNG agreements with the U.S. and Qatar. Historically, Poland has been a vocal critic of Nord Stream 1 and 2, the Russian-German pipeline projects that bypassed Ukraine via the Baltic Sea. While speculation persists about Poland’s involvement in the mysterious 2022 explosions that disabled both pipelines, Warsaw has neither confirmed nor denied any role.
The idea of reinstating Russian gas flows has gained traction in some corners of the EU, with Germany, Hungary, and Slovakia reportedly backing a proposal to use energy as leverage in peace negotiations with Moscow. According to the Financial Times, proponents argue that restoring Russian gas transit could drive down energy costs and entice Russia into talks for a ceasefire that would include resuming shipments through Ukraine.
However, critics counter that such a move would only bolster Russia’s war chest and might put the EU at odds with the U.S., which has warned of potential tariffs if Europe shifts away from American LNG. Reintroducing Russian supplies would also contradict the EU’s policy of eliminating Russian fossil fuels by 2027—a strategy implemented in direct response to Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.
American LNG exporters are watching the debate closely. If Russian pipeline gas were to re-enter Europe via Ukraine, it could undercut U.S. LNG in the market, raising concerns about competitiveness.
Though Russian pipeline gas once accounted for 10% of EU supplies in 2024, volumes have plummeted as transit through Ukraine ceased, severely affecting Slovakia. Currently, the only remaining pipeline route from Russia into the EU is TurkStream, which supplies Hungary.
Interestingly, despite the crackdown on Russian fossil fuels, LNG from Russia remains unsanctioned in Europe. In fact, last year saw record-high imports of Russian LNG into the EU, according to the Financial Times.
For Poland, however, the message remains clear: any return to Russian gas is a step backward—one it refuses to take.
