Russia is ready to consider any options for gas deliveries to Greece and Italy, including through Bulgaria, but any decision for building infrastructure depends on the European Commission, Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak has said.

"I think we are ready to consider any options if they are mutually beneficial and ensure deliveries and security for European consumers," TASS quoted Novak as saying on Friday in Dushanbe, Tajikistan where the 49th session of the CIS Electric Power Council is taking place.

Novak noted that Russia sees interest in gas supplies to Southeast Europe but added that such supplies depend to a great extent on decisions of the European Commission for the development of appropriate infrastructure and routes in Europe.

"Nobody will lay a pipeline on the Black Sea bottom without having a guarantee that this infrastructure will be in demand," Novak said, according to TASS.

Novak’s comments come three days after Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Moscow has abandoned neither the South Stream project for Russian gas supplies to Europe via Bulgaria, nor what has been considered as its substitute, the Turkish Stream project.

Howver, Moscow needed a clear position of the European Commission on those projects, Putin added.

Novak said last month that a new gas pipeline could reach Greece and Italy from Russia across the Black Sea and then pass either through Bulgaria or Turkey.