RIA Novosti: Gazprom to press on with South Stream regardless of Ukraine option

Russia's gas export monopoly Gazprom will not abandon its plans to implement the South Stream gas pipeline project, even if it reaches agreement with Ukraine on operating its gas transportation system, Gazprom export head Alexander Medvedev said on Wednesday.

"Even if we take into account the Nord Stream, the South Stream, the Nabucco (western-backed rival project) and liquefied natural gas, all the same, the shortage of gas supplies to Europe will be some 15-20 billion cubic meters," Medvedev told reporters.  MORE