Putin willing to bail out Greece and stave off eurozone crisis

Russia is willing to consider giving financial aid to Greece, President Vladimir Putin’s spokesman said Friday ahead of talks between the leaders of the two countries. Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras traveled to Russia as his country struggles to reach a deal with its creditors for new loans it needs to avoid defaulting on debt payments at the end of the month. Without the bailout, Greece could be headed for bankruptcy or an exit from the euro. Tsipras’s visit has given rise to speculation that the Greeks may be seeking Russian loans.

If the Greeks ask for a loan then we will consider it, but they have not yet asked. We would do this because they are our partners and this is a normal practice between countries who are partners.

Vladimir Putin’s spokesman, Dmitry Peskov

Deputy Prime Minister Arkady Dvorkovich also said Russia would consider a loan. “The most important things for us are investment projects and trade with Greece. If financial support is needed, we will consider this question,” he said in an interview on RT television, the Tass news agency reported. Dvorkovich spoke after Russia and Greece signed a deal Friday to build an extension of a prospective gas pipeline that would carry Russian gas to Europe through Turkey. Russia promised Greece hundreds of millions of dollars in transit payments yearly if it agreed to build the pipeline. Construction of the pipeline is expected to start next year and be completed in 2019.

Business Tsipras