Seven former Soviet-bloc countries, seeking to lessen dependence on Moscow’s energy supplies and transport routes, have agreed to launch a joint project aimed at bypassing Russian territory to bring Caspian oil to European markets. A joint declaration on creating a “Caspian energy space” was signed in Kyiv at the end of a two-day summit attended by seven presidents, including Georgia’s Mikheil Saakashvili and Ilham Aliyev of oil-rich Azerbaijan. At its heart lies a bid by Ukraine to become a transport corridor for Caspian oil to Europe — challenging Moscow’s traditional domination of energy in the region. Full Story