Introduction

The adaptation of Russia's European energy strategy to new realities in gas has started already after 2006 and has crystallized since 2009. The unfortunate Russia-Ukraine gas transit crises of Jan' 2006 and Jan' 2009 were not the only and not the key element, though important of such adaptation. Recent reunification of Crimea with Russia and its possible/perceived economic consequences has just further improved this new strategy, argue the authors.