The main outcome of Putin’s visit to Turkey was the announcement that the $40 billion South Stream gas pipeline project would be cancelled. The effects of this cancellation on Russia and Turkey differ, even though the project was interpreted as a rapprochement of their strategic visions.

Over and over again, they keep insisting on their Third Energy Package, which the Russian leaders refer to as ‘a very harmful document’, and want Gazprom to unbundle its gas supplying, transporting and marketing businesses; share pipeline space with other gas producers; obey independent regulators and transmission operators; and drop manipulations with prices.

Israel made another discovery off its coast. The newly discovered field, Royee, may hold up to 3.2 Tcf of natural gas according to a statement made by the Israeli partners in the field Ratio and Israel Opportunity who hold respectively 70%, and 10% stakes.

The last 48 hours witnessed a frenzy of diplomatic activities by Balkan and Southeastern countries with both Russia and Europe, underlining the importance of this area for the ongoing if relatively silent confrontation between Moscow and Brussels/Berlin.

Europe is betting on the acceleration of the Southern Gas Corridor, which has been defined a key project along with the Vertical Corridor from Greece to Romania through Bulgaria.

The dramatic events that recently took place regarding the termination of South Stream and its replacement by the so-called 'Turk Stream' pipeline has caused shock throughout Bulgaria, which is already rife by public discontent against the current political and economic elite.

Demise of South Stream big setback for Putin. Russia’s deal with Turkey cannot be deemed a serious replacement.

Gazprom, the state gas company, has been at the forefront of Moscow’s push to expand its influence into the Balkans – a region beset with economic and political difficulties.

Russia urges EU to lift sanctions, promises to waive counter-measures

Europe must wean itself off Russian gas and look to places like the Caspian Sea or the Middle East for alternative supplies, as the conflict in Ukraine underscores the importance of energy independence