Azernews.Az

By Bloomberg

Greece has informed European Union leaders that it no longer supports sanctions against Russia over the conflict in Ukraine, Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras told Tass in an interview.

Tsipras called EU President Donald Tusk and Federica Mogherini, the 28-nation bloc’s foreign-policy chief, to tell them that they had to seek the Greek government’s position before making decisions, according to the Russian state-run news service. He said that Greece suffered from a Russian food import ban that President Vladimir Putin imposed in response to the sanctions, Tass reported.

“I called him and Mogherini and told them: ‘Don’t take Greece’s position for granted, the situation has changed, and now Greece has a new government,’” Tass cited Tsipras as saying. “We disagree with sanctions. I see it as a road to nowhere.”

Greece, Europe’s most-indebted state, is locked in negotiations with euro-area countries and the International Monetary Fund over the terms of its 240 billion-euro ($260 billion) rescue. The standoff, which has left Greece dependent upon European Central Bank loans, risks leading to a default within weeks and its potential exit from the euro area.

Putin, whose relations with EU leaders have worsened to a post-Cold War low because of the conflict in Ukraine, last month invited Tsipras to Russia. The Greek premier plans to visit Moscow on April 8 and will return for World War II victory celebrations in early May.

“Spring” has replaced “winter” in Greek-Russian relations, Tsipras told Tass.

“The new European security architecture must include Russia,” he said. “Greece, as an EU member state, can be a bridge between the West and Russia.”

Tsipras said he sees energy and tourism as the main areas for cooperation with Russia. He didn’t address his country’s bailout options, according to quotes made available by Tass.