Greece: Putin and Tsipras meet in Athens ahead of bilateral talks

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras met at the Maximus Mansion on Friday ahead of bilateral talks on trade, energy, transport, and the amended visa programme for Russian citizens.
Putin said that Russia and Greece "have a lot of problems and the times are difficult, but [they] definitely have perspectives". He went on to state that the countries will "transform the kind, mutual relationship, the feelings of two nations in the sphere of economic development and partnership".
Tsipras said that the visit of the Russian president during the Russian-Greek cultural year "confirms the high level of our bilateral relations" and "strong willingness for these relations to be upgraded". He underlined that the strengthening of relations “is a strategic choice for Greece", which were acted on because of "historically strong cultural, spiritual ties" between the two nations.