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Russian Finance Minister said Thursday that his country would consider extending financial aid to debt-ridden Greece if Athens were to make a request.
In an interview with the U.S. Channel CNBC, Anton Siluanov said that if such petition is submitted to Russian officials, they will definitely consider it, but will take into account all the factors of the bilateral relationships between Russia and Greece.
Siluanov's comments come days after the anti-austerity and anti-bailout party Syriza won parliamentary elections, vowing to renegotiate aid packages from the European Union that are tied to strict austerity measures.
Greece has been experiencing a deep political and economic crisis for the past five years. Unemployment is around 25 percent and the economy has shrunk by a quarter since the start of the eurozone crisis.
The newly-elected Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras says one of his priorities is a fair and mutually beneficial deal with E.U. creditors, he also said that recession-hit Greece cannot recover without a significant debt reduction and an end to austerity cuts.
Tsipras named a cabinet of anti-austerity veterans and halted privatization of Greece's biggest port signaling he aims to stick to election pledges despite warning shots from the eurozone and financial markets.
The United States and European Union have imposed sanctions on Russia for its role in eastern Ukraine, they accuse Moscow of arming pro-independence fighters and sending troops and tanks across the border into the conflict zone. The Kremlin categorically denies these accusations.
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