In Moscow, at a ceremony for the presentation of the letter of credence of the Bulgarian Ambassador to Russia Atanas Krastin, Russian President Vladimir Putin has expressed regret over the fact that the South Stream gas pipeline was not implemented, but has remarked that now new opportunities have arisen for Bulgaria to play a substantial role for the transiting of Russian gas to European markets.

Vladimir Putin has pointed out that during the visits last May of President Rumen Radev and Prime Minister Boyko Borissov in Moscow the sides confirmed mutual intentions for furtherance of bilateral trade and economic cooperation including the energy sector. He has recalled that this year marks the 140^th anniversary since the Liberation of Bulgaria from Ottoman yoke.