Europe needs to quickly find alternative sources of energy in connection with Ukraine, but the proposed pipeline to bring East Mediterranean gas to the continent via Israel, Cyprus and Greece is not viable, said Deputy Secretary of State for Political Affairs Victoria Nuland, Reuters reported.

The idea is to build a very long pipeline at a very deep depth in about 10 years, said Victoria Nuland.

Cyprus, Israel and Greece considered building a pipeline linking gas fields in the Eastern Mediterranean with Europe, but the project fell through when the US withdrew its political support for the project in January.

The three countries are expected to decide this year on the viability of the $6 billion pipeline known as EastMed.

Talk of a pipeline from Israel to Turkey, previously sidelined by political tensions between the two, has recently revived.

Such an option would require consultations with Cyprus, which Turkey will not recognize if it passes through Cypriot waters.