Top Russian and US officials have held talks about bringing a US investor into the Nord Stream pipelines that once carried Russian gas to Germany, sources told Reuters.

The discussions included Kirill Dmitriev, a close adviser to Vladimir Putin, and US Special Envoy Jared Kushner. Dmitriev has campaigned for a resumption of Russian gas sales to Germany.

Kushner, who has been trying to broker a truce between Russia and Ukraine, views business deals as central to restoring peace. A deal could let US investors profit from energy flows to Europe once the war ends.

A White House official said any deals must benefit US taxpayers and companies. But a US official said a deal is unlikely in the medium term, as the pipelines are sanctioned by both the US and the EU.

Germany has taken a hard line against restoring gas imports, and ownership complexities could further impede any agreement.