Russian President Vladimir Putin says Greece has not asked Moscow for aid to overcome its debt problems.
Speaking at a news conference in the Russian city of Ufa following a summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, Putin said Athens “has not approached us for any help.”
"Certainly, we look at this [crisis] with great attention and with some alarm, but we still hope that the crisis will be resolved in the very near future," Putin added.
The Russian leader also questioned the European Union's handling of the crisis.
"Of course, the Greeks could be blamed for everything, but where was the European Commission if there were violations in their behavior?” Putin asked. “Why did it not make corrections to the economic agenda of earlier Greek governments?"
