During a gathering on Friday with academics and reporters from the Valdai International Discussion Club, a group consisting of international academics and leading experts who meet annually to discuss Russia's position in the world, Putin said they could consider transporting natural gas to Europe via Turkey, bypassing Ukraine, The Moscow Times reported.
Putin's remarks came on the heels of a recent meeting with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in Ankara in August during which the two prime ministers discussed a number of issues, in particular energy. Erdoğan and his Russian counterpart signed a deal in Ankara for the construction of part of the South Stream pipeline through Turkish territorial waters in the Black Sea, weeks after Turkey signed a preliminary agreement with European Union countries to launch construction of the Nabucco pipeline, which will carry gas from the Caucasus and Central Asia to Europe. Although Turkey denies that the pipeline is a rival to Russia, Nabucco is expected to reduce European dependence on Russia for energy.
Some 80 percent of Russia's natural gas supply to Europe runs through Ukraine. Having faced difficulties in its gas transportation to Europe due to political and economic problems with Ukraine, Russia has sought ways to diversify its energy routes since early 2009. Expecting to reach out to Northern Europe with a North Stream pipeline project, the natural gas-rich country has also accelerated efforts to commence construction of a South Stream pipeline.
Meanwhile, the Kommersant daily has said Putin's meeting with the Valdai group took longer than expected since the Russian prime minister had also spoken to Erdoğan on the phone during the meeting, which lasted for two-and-a-half hours.
