Russia: Moscow wants to cooperate with a united Europe - Putin

Russian President Vladimir Putin said he wanted to make clear that Moscow was not going to take advantage of some of the European Union's internal issues "in order to solve the question of improving relations with the European Union as a whole," during a joint press conference with Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras in Moscow, Wednesday.

Discussing his meeting with Tspiras, Putin said Russia wanted to work with the EU "in a transparent and trustworthy way in the framework of our long-term strategies," stating that the meeting in Moscow was nothing more than an attempt to create "joint and positive work aimed at reaching positive results in the interests of our people and our economies."

The Russian president also expressed his surprise that Tsipras' visit was considered by some analysts and politicians as an "extraordinary event." He stressed that Greece, despite being laden with debt, should not be politically limited and had the right to conduct an independent foreign policy.