Putin, while speaking on a trip to Athens, Greece, Friday said he will have to respond after the USA deployed its missile defense in Romania and Poland.
Advertisement
Earlier this month, the US program was declared operational at a site in Romania, drawing an angry reaction from Russian Federation.
At a joint news conference with Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras on Friday (May 27), Putin said Russian tourist numbers to Greece could jump threefold with improved visa arrangements.
“It will be the same case with Poland”, Putin said.
Putin stressed that Russian Federation was responding to moves by the United States. “We did not impose them; we took measures to respond to them”, Putin said. Russia’s president Vladimir Putin is due in financially struggling Greece F.
“We heard”, he continued, “that there is a desire to restore our relations and we also have such a desire”. President Vladimir Putin warned Romania and Poland could find themselves in the sights of Russian rockets in result.
“The issue of Crimea is over forever, based on the will of the people who live there”.
The sanctions hit banking, defence and energy sectors.
Putin arrived in Athens – his first trip to a European Union country this year – on a two-day visit and emerged from talks with the Greek government to lash the United States and North Atlantic Treaty Organisation allies, also accusing them of stifling trade and energy cooperation with Russian Federation.
During a joint news conference in Athens with Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, Putin said that Russian Federation had stated repeatedly that it would have to take retaliatory steps but that Washington and its allies had ignored the warnings.
According to Greek officials a deal between Russian oil giant Rosneft and Greek refiner Hellenic Petroleum might be signed as well as proposals for a southern gas pipeline through Greece. “Of course … when the disagreements exceed our powers, we can act a positive influence within the European Union and North Atlantic Treaty Organisation”.
We will do our utmost to bring Russian-Turkish relations to a very high level, emphasizing that desire and statements are not enough for the restoration of relations.
Advertisement
Mount Athos is an enclave of 20 monasteries – including one apiece for Russia, Serbia and Bulgaria – that has enjoyed autonomy since Byzantine times.
