South Stream pipeline halt throws focus back on Ukraine

An alternative route for Russian gas could carve through Ukraine into the rest of Europe

Russia's decision to stop the Gazprom-controlled South Stream gas pipeline project, which would have pumped gas to south and central Europe, has thrown the spotlight firmly back on Ukraine, which hosts the most obvious alternative route for increased Russian gas supply to Europe, if the political and military crisis there can be resolved. On 1 December, during a visit to Turkey, Russian president Vladimir Putin and Gazprom head Alexei Miller said that the $40 billion-plus scheme was being halted in the face of opposition from the European Commission and that Russia would now focus on other more feasible gas projects. In June, the Commission effectively stopped construction of the Bulgarian s