Russian President Vladimir Putin (R) and Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras (L) shake hands after their meeting in the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, 08 April 2015. EPA/BGNES
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras have discussed the outcome of the bailout referendum held in Greece the day before, the Kremlin said on Monday.
In a telephone conversation held on the initiative of the Greek side the two leaders also discussed "some issues of the further development of Russian-Greek cooperation," the Kremlin press service said in a statement. It didn’t elaborate.
There was no mention of possible Russian financial aid for debt-laden Greece.
Austerity-weary Greek voters on Sunday rejected the terms of a bailout-for-reforms deal proposed by the country’s international creditors. The results of the referendum showed that 61.31% of voters rejected the bailout prposal, while 38.69% accepted it.
"Vladimir Putin expressed support to the Greek people in overcoming the hardships their country is facing," the Kremlin added.
Tsipras had assured Putin that the Greek government will continue its talks with the creditors, Russian presidential aide Yury Ushakov told reporters.
A Greek government official has said Putin had initiated the call, which took place during a break in talks in Athens between Tsipras and political party leaders on Monday, ahead of renewed negotiations with eurozone creditors.
Meanwhile, Turkey’s Anodolu Agency reported that Putin had requested a conversation with Tsipras and Greek Energy Minister Panagiotis Lafazanis.
“The subject of the discussion between the Greek and Russian leaders was not disclosed, but it will reportedly concern a possible energy deal between the two countries,” according to the Turkish news agency.
Putin and Tsipras discussed over the phone the planned construction of Turkish Stream pipeline, a major project designed to carry Russian natural gas to Europe via Turkey and Greece.