WASHINGTON, December 3 (Sputnik) – The cancellation of the South Stream pipeline project by Russian President Vladimir Putin is a "setback" to Russia and its energy interests in Europe, two ranking US senators told Sputnik on Wednesday.
"I will say the overall abandonment of the larger pipeline certainly was a setback to Putin and his interests in the region," a ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Bob Corker, said referring to South Stream.
Incoming chairman of the Armed Services Committee, John McCain told Sputnik was pleased with Russian decision to cancel South Stream. "It's a big setback for Vladimir," McCain said of the Russian President.
On Monday, President Putin announced the cancellation of the South Stream pipeline project, as Bulgaria was unable to commit to the deal due to pressure from the European Union. The same day, CEO of Russia's energy giant Gazprom Alexei Miller announced a major pipeline project to Turkey, using the previously planned Black Sea route.
