By the end of the year Ukraine might have a reliable ally in negotiations with Russia, the Nezavisimaya Gazeta daily concluded following a meeting between Ukrainian Prime Minister Mykola Azarov and EU Energy Commissioner Gunther Oettinger in Kiev.
By saying that Ukraine may join the European Energy Community within 12 months, for the first time Oettinger cautiously backed Ukraine’s opinion that South Stream’s construction might prove inexpedient. Days ago Azarov presented an alternative to the expensive gas pipeline project – the modernization of pipelines in southern Ukraine that would allow the transit of the same quantities of gas to the Bulgarian city of Burgas that South Stream would.
In spite of good relations with the new Ukrainian government Russia is not willing to forfeit the project, even though it would make the Ukrainian gas transit network completely useless.
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