Russia abandons South Stream but not goal of bypassing Ukraine

Russia's President Vladimir Putin, accompanied by his Turkish counterpart Tayyip Erdogan (not pictured), attends a news conference in Ankara, December 1, 2014. REUTERS/Mikhail Klimentyev/RIA Novosti/Kremlin

MOSCOW (Reuters) - President Vladimir Putin's decision to drop the South Stream pipeline project is a blow but not an end to Russia's search for ways to get natural gas to Europe without going through Ukraine.

The Kremlin wants to find routes to bypass Ukraine to cement its position on the European market and reduce reliance for energy transit on a country with which relations are strained.