Greek PM meets Putin amid tension with EU

MOSCOW: Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras met Kremlin strongman Vladimir Putin in Moscow Wednesday with the EU nervous that cash-strapped Athens is trying to cosy up to Russia.
“The aim of my visit is to try together to give a new start to our relations for the good of our people and also in search of stability and security in the wider region,” Tsipras said at the start of the meeting.
Putin highlighted the “spiritual” relations between the two Christian Orthodox nations and said both sides should look at mending trade ties battered by the fallout of the Ukraine crisis.
“It seems that your visit is very timely as we have to analyze ways we can return to the previous levels,” Putin said.
The talks come as Tsipras is battling to unblock a rescue package from the EU and IMF, with some in Brussels warning against any move to barter financial support from Moscow for political backing over the Ukraine crisis.
But analysts say that while the visit might see Moscow lift an embargo on Greek agricultural produce, overall it is more about political grandstanding aimed at pressuring Europe rather than a serious shift in policy.
Russia’s economy minister Alexei Ulyukayev said Moscow would discuss the possible dropping of the import ban at a meeting with Greek officials Thursday, Russian news agencies reported.
Tsipras, a former Communist who came to power in January, has made no secret of seeking closer ties to Russia at a time when Moscow is at loggerheads with the European Union over the conflict in Ukraine.
The Greek premier — who traveled to Moscow last year prior to his election win — took part in a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier by the Kremlin ahead of his sit-down with Putin.
A number of Greek officials have openly broached the prospect of Athens turning to Russia or China for financial assistance if loan talks with the EU end in failure.
Germany on Tuesday angrily labelled a call by Athens for more than 278 billion euros ($306 billion) in WWII reparations as “dumb.”