Greece and Russia keen to restore ties

Russian president Vladimir Putin and Greek PM Alexis Tsipras said they want to restore ties between their countries amid signs of a schism among some EU states on whether to maintain sanctions against Russia over the conflict in Ukraine.

“Greece is a sovereign country with unalienable rights,” Tsipras said after meeting with Putin in Moscow yesterday and it disagrees with the logic of sanctions, which he called “an economic war”. He wishes “for a new spring in ties between our countries”.

Putin said Greece could play an enhanced role as an energy hub for Russian gas exports via a new pipeline through Turkey.