Russia says it will shift gas transit from Ukraine to Turkey

During a visit of the European Commission Vice President Maroš Šefčovič to Russia on 14 January 2015, the country's authorities announced they would shift all its gas transit from Ukraine to Turkey. EU customers should therefore start buying this gas at the border with Greece.

Mr Šefčovič stated he was 'very surprised' by the Russian move. Russia had recently abandoned plans to build the South Stream gas pipeline via the Black Sea to Bulgaria, and blamed Sofia for having obstructed the project. Bulgarian Prime Minister has since then tried to coordinate the response with the European Commission [click here for more information on the subject]. The alternative to build a Turkish pipeline appeared following a visit of Russian president Vladimir Putin to Turkey.

• Primary Source

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