The EU could begin importing some gas from Russia as Donald Trump stirs fears of fragile energy security in the bloc. Europe relied heavily on US oil following the outbreak of the war in Ukraine over three years ago, but the president has made this relationship unstable. The pledge to end Russian energy imports by 2027 has left the EU with limited options as talks with Qatar stalled and the development of renewables is not quick enough.

Didier Holleaux, executive vice-president at France's Engie, explained that "reasonable peace" in Ukraine must be reached before negotiations regarding Russian oil can begin. He told Reuters: "If there is a reasonable peace in Ukraine, we could go back to flows of 60 billion cubic metres, maybe 70, annually, including LNG [liquefied natural gas]."

Patrick Pouyanne, head of French oil company TotalEnergies, added: "We need to diversify, many routes, not over-rely on one or two.

"Europe will never go back to importing 150 billion cubic meters from Russia like before the war...but I would bet maybe 70 bcm."

Christof Guenther, managing director of chemical plant operator InfraLeuna, stressed the urgency of the situation.

He said: "We are in a severe crisis and can’t wait. Reopening pipelines would reduce prices more than any current subsidy programmes."

He called it "a taboo topic", but said many of his colleagues agreed on the need to go back to Russian gas.