You're reading: Putin: South Stream does not aim to bypass Ukraine

The implementation of the South Stream project does not aim to bypass Ukraine or put someone in a difficult situation - Russia is only acting in its own interests, said Russian President Vladimir Putin.

“These is not a desire to bypass Ukraine, these are the projects that
started long ago. And the Nord Stream – is it a desire to bypass? No.
And our Blue Stream towards Turkey across the bottom of the Black Sea.
Is is a desire to put someone in a difficult situation? No,” Putin told a
press conference after talks with his Austrian counterpart in Vienna on
Tuesday.

He also recalled the currently operating gas pipeline across Belarus
and Poland. “Is it a desire to bypass Ukraine? No. We are simply
developing the transport infrastructure. One cannot insist all the time
that we are doing something against something. We and our partners are
doing this in our interests,” Putin said.

“In my view, and I’ve told [Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko] about this: what has been done so far is not enough for truly overcoming
the crisis. Because saying only that we stop combat activities for
seven days and those who don’t disarm in seven days will be destroyed is
not a way to peace,” Putin said at a press conference following
negotiations with Austrian President Heinz Fischer.

The ceasefire that has been declared in Ukraine is “still an
important step in the right direction,” Putin said. “We hope the truce
will be extended,” he added.