![\"Russian](\"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/putin-tsipras-russia-greece.jpg\")
<\/a>Russian President Vladimir Putin with Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras in Moscow on 8 April 2015 [PPIO]<\/p><\/div>Russian President Vladimir Putin held talks with Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras on Wednesday [8 Apr 2015] in Moscow during which the two sides discussed economic ties, energy security and world affairs and inked bilateral agreements on agriculture.<\/p>\n
Putin, in a joint press conference following talks, said the two leaders discussed major infrastructure projects like the Turkish Stream among other energy projects.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe agree to\u00a0pay more attention to\u00a0investments, we discussed cooperation in\u00a0energy sector. We discussed possibility to\u00a0supply Russian gas to\u00a0Greece via\u00a0Turkish Stream,\u201d Putin said on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe new route will provide for the Europeans\u2019 needs in fuel, and would allow Greece to become one of the main power distribution centers on the continent, could help attract significant investments into the Greek economy,\u201d Putin added.<\/p>\n
Tsipras said that Athens was interested in attracting investments for construction of the pipeline on the Greek territory from the Turkish border.<\/p>\n
Greek-Russia bilateral trade more than doubled over 2009\u20132013 but fell by\u00a040 per cent in 2014. Greece-EU bailout talks are still in a deadlock as Athens struggles to revive the economy that is facing billions of euros in debt and interest payments.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the Greek Prime Minister in Moscow said European leaders must respect the sovereignty of Greece and its right to improve ties with countries like Russia.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have spring in\u00a0Russian-Greek relations,\u201d Tsipras said. \u201cGreece is a sovereign state and will use its geopolitical role as\u00a0European country. We will use all opportunities to\u00a0boost cooperation with\u00a0Russia.\u201d<\/p>\n
Putin said Russia is not \u201cforcing anyone into anything\u201d but noted that \u201cjust because Greece is debt-ridden, does it mean that it cannot have an independent foreign policy?\u201d<\/p>\n
German Foreign Ministry spokesman Sawsan Chebli said Tuesday at\u00a0a press briefing in\u00a0Berlin that Greece is expected to continue supporting EU sanctions against Russia.<\/p>\n
Greek Premier Tsipras on Wednesday, however, said\u00a0Greece \u201copenly disapproves\u201d of European anti-Russian sanctions, because the EU economic war against Russia could lead to a new Cold War.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe do not entirely share the EU stance on economic sanctions against Russia. We will promote new solution based on dialogue,\u201d said Tsipras in Moscow.<\/p>\n