The Kremlin denies agreement with Athens to grant € 3-5 billion – RBC

Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras and Russian President Vladimir Putin (left to right) during a meeting in the Kremlin

Photo: TASS

According to Peskov, at the recent talks between Vladimir Putin and Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras was not agreed to grant financial assistance to Greece, as the financial assistance from Russia “No one has asked.” According to Peskov Business FM, the negotiations “raised the issue of energy cooperation”, and after the meeting the parties agreed that “will be held at the expert level study of all issues related to cooperation in the energy sector».

As reported eve Spiegel, Greece intends to sign an energy agreement with Russia next week. At the same time, Moscow, according to the German edition, Athens provide an advance in the amount of € 3 billion to $ 5 billion in the form of an advance against future profits Athens from gas transit through its territory to the “Turkish stream.” Amounts owed to Moscow allegedly planned to deduct from the income from the transit of Greece. The pipeline in question, scheduled to be commissioned in 2019. Provision of financial assistance allegedly discussed at the meeting with Putin Tsipras On April 8, during the visit of the Greek Prime Minister to Moscow.

At a press conference after talks with Putin Tsipras noted that Greece had not appealed to Russia asking for help. The president added that “if we implement projects that will generate income of Greece, that income may go to repay the loans of the Greek».

Now Greece is trying to convince the EU and the IMF to provide her with another financial aid package. Under current conditions of the loan, May 1, Greece must repay the IMF € 203 million on May 12, – € 770 million in June – € 1,6 Bln. Observers note that the confrontation of Athens with the ECB can lead to the fact that the country’s authorities to declare a default, that, in turn, increases the risk of a Greek exit from the euro zone.

About the project pipeline “Turkish Stream” was announced in December 2014. The pipeline was supposed to be an alternative to the folded “South Stream”. The pipeline will be laid under the Black Sea to Turkey. On the border between Turkey and Greece is expected to build a gas hub through which the gas will receive European consumers.