Sign up for our daily Newsletter and stay up to date with all the latest news!

Subscribe I am already a subscriber

You are using software which is blocking our advertisements (adblocker).

As we provide the news for free, we are relying on revenues from our banners. So please disable your adblocker and reload the page to continue using this site.
Thanks!

Click here for a guide on disabling your adblocker.

Sign up for our daily Newsletter and stay up to date with all the latest news!

Subscribe I am already a subscriber

No boycott end after Greek visit to Moscow

Yesterday, Greek prime minister Tsipras visited the Kremlin. The EU could only watch with clenched teeth as the Greek prime minister travelled to Moscow. One of the items on the agenda was a partial lifting of the boycott. Although expectations were high, especially after a minister reportedly said that protocols had been established to lift the boycott, Tsipras returned to Athens (nearly) empty-handed.



Both Russia and Greece emphasize that no financial support was requested by Athens. Greece is arguing with the EU over the loans, but also needs capital in the short term. "Greece has not asked us for aid," Putin says. "I also find it remarkable that there were doubts about this. Surely Greece doesn't have their hands tied, and their sovereignty isn't limited to the extent that they are not allowed a foreign policy of their own? I don't believe that at all, and the Greek prime minister's visit proves the opposite." In turn, Tsipras emphasized that Greece isn't asking other countries for support like a beggar.

Regarding the boycott, Putin was clear: it's impossible to make an exception for a single EU member. In addition, the Russian president said that the boycott was the only way to respond to the European sanctions, and Tsipras once again argued that the sanctions are a dead end street.

General agreements were made, however, on increased economic cooperation, including in terms of energy. Concrete agreements weren't made.