Greek Foreign Minister To Visit Moscow On February 11

Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias will travel to Moscow on February 11 at the invitation of his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov.

The meeting will coincide with a proposed summit in Minsk where the leaders of Ukraine, Russia, France, and Germany hope to reach a deal to defuse the Ukraine crisis.

It will also take place as eurozone finance ministers meet in Brussels on Greece's efforts to renegotiate the terms of its massive international bailout.

The antiausterity government in Athens has been open about wanting to forge closer links with Russia.

Late on February 9, Defense Minister Panos Kammenos said Greece could turn to the United States, Russia, or China if it fails to reach a new debt agreement with the eurozone.

EU officials have so far rejected Greece’s push to renegotiate the terms of its €240 billion ($276 billion) bailout, which Athens says are too severe.

Based on reporting by AFP, dpa, and Interfax