Putin Willing to Give Financial Aid to Greece

Russia is willing to consider giving financial aid to Greece, Russian President Vladimir Putin’s spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, said Friday ahead of talks between the leaders of the two countries.

Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras traveled to Russia on Friday 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. Peskov told the Associated Press that “[i]f the Greeks ask for a loan, then we will consider it, but they have not yet asked.”

Tsipras’s visit has given rise to speculation that the Greeks may be seeking Russian loans.