Moscow---Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras was due to meet Kremlin strongman Vladimir Putin in Moscow Wednesday as part of an eye-catching visit that has fuelled EU fears cash-strapped Athens is cosying up to Russia.
The two-day trip comes as Tsipras is battling to unblock a rescue package from the EU and IMF, with some in Brussels warning against any move to barter financial support from Moscow for political backing over the Ukraine crisis.
But analysts say that while the visit might see Moscow lift an embargo on Greek fruit, overall it is more about political grandstanding aimed at pressuring Europe rather than a serious shift in policy.
Tsipras, a former Communist who came to power in January, has made no secret of seeking closer ties to Russia at a time when Moscow is at loggerheads with the European Union over the conflict in Ukraine.
He has travelled to Moscow already last year, prior to his election win, to meet with several officials and lawmakers.
A number of Greek officials have openly broached the prospect of Athens turning to Russia or China for financial assistance if loan talks with the EU end in failure.
Ahead of the trip, Tsipras once again rattled the EU's already shaky stance over Ukraine by lashing out at Western sanctions against Moscow as "a road to nowhere".
"We do not agree with sanctions," Tsipras told Russian state news agency TASS.
"I support the point of view that there is a need for a dialogue and diplomacy, we should sit down at the negotiating table and find the solutions to major problems."
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Both sides have talked up the possibility of closer economic ties between the two Orthodox nations ahead of the visit -- set to be followed by another trip to Moscow for Tsipras for WWII victory anniversary commemorations in May.
Prominent among the issues on the agenda is gas after Energy Minister Panagiotis Lafazanis discussed energy exploration and the new Turkish Stream pipeline during a two-day visit last month.
But while both sides make positive noises there appears no chance of Russia -- battling an economic crisis of its own -- stepping in with major financial aid.
"There is no question of Greece receiving any money to plug its holes," Russian foreign affairs expert Fyodor Lukyanov told AFP.
Moscow, however, could well decide to revoke a painful embargo on fruit -- imposed as part of a wider ban on Western products in response to sanctions over Ukraine -- that has bruised Greece's agricultural sector.
"That does not cost anything but still looks good," Lukyanov said.
AFP
