By 2019, Russian gas going to Europe will be fully bypassing Ukraine

Gazprom has taken a decision to re-route the gas supply to Europe bypassing Ukraine starting from 2019, Gazprom Board of Directors Chair Viktor Zubkov said.

He noted that taking into account the decision, Gazprom’s partners in Europe have not so much time left for preparations. According to Zubkov, the decision to transit the Russian gas via Turkey was made by the Russian leadership.

As EAD reported earlier, in December 2014, Russia announced shutdown of the South Stream project and launch of a new project, a gas pipeline through the Turkish territory. Russia’s President Vladimir Putin explained the decision by a years-long counteraction from the European Union to the project.

Meanwhile, Hungary has already started talks with Greece, Macedonia and Serbia on delivery of the Russian gas to Central Europe from Turkey.