Voice of America: EU Puts Russia Gas Pipeline Talks on Hold

Political talks between EU officials and Russia on its South Stream gas pipeline to bypass Ukraine are on hold, while Gazprom's access to another vital link has stalled for technical reasons, the European Commission said on Monday.
 
Relations between Russia and the European Union have been thrown into turmoil by Russia's seizure of Ukraine's Crimea region.
 
In Brussels, the crisis is likely to intensify efforts to reduce energy dependence on Russia, while Moscow has long sought to curb its reliance on Ukraine as the main transit route for Russian gas to Europe, its biggest market.  MORE