During a visit to Turkey on Dec. 2, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the cancellation of the South Stream project to carry Russian natural gas to Europe via Bulgaria. Instead, he said, a pipeline would be build under the Black Sea and via Turkey. The European Commission had delayed approval of the South Stream project as part of sanctions against Moscow for its actions in Ukraine. Without the commission's approval, Bulgaria declared South Stream could not cross its territory. Russia, upset with the Europeans' position, responded with the Turkey Stream project.

Putin's move surprised the Europeans. Federica Mogherini, EU foreign affairs and security policy chief, declared on Euronews TV that the Russian decision illustrated the urgent need for Europe to diversify its gas procurement channels. The scrapped project was to have been 3,600 kilometers (2,237 miles) long and would have transported gas to Croatia, Hungary, Serbia and Slovenia.

Andras Deak, of the World Economy Institute, told Euronews: “The European Commission, by explaining why reconciliation would be more beneficial to both sides, could induce Russia to take a step back and thus boost its own prestige as well.” Neither Europe nor Putin, however, chose to step back. In fact, Putin moved forward, on his new project, meeting in February with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban to discuss Turkey Stream. The two leaders agreed the pipeline should pass through Hungary. Having been a key proponent of South Stream, Hungary it appears decided it would not lose anything by joining Turkey Stream.

Gokhan Yardim, former general manager of Turkey’s Petroleum Pipeline Corporation (BOTAS), explained to Al-Monitor how Turkey Stream and South Stream could actually be combined, which Putin had suggested. He said, “The route is mostly the same. As in South Stream, the gas will reach Austria via Serbia and Hungary with the Turkey Stream. The only difference will be that it enters Europe via Turkey instead of Bulgarian territorial waters. But a possible alteration is possible. Today Russia is sending Turkey 14 billion cubic meters of gas per annum via Ukraine and Bulgaria. When Turkey Stream is completed, that pipeline will be basically useless. Russia can transfer gas from the Turkey Stream to that pipeline. Romania and Bulgaria can buy gas from that pipeline, and the pipeline will not be left idle.”