Russia mulls lifting sanctions on Greece

Russia may lift embargo on farm product imports from Greece introduced last year, Economic Development Minister Alexei Ulyukayev said Wednesday.

"We are going to discuss that topic in details during a meeting held tomorrow between Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev and Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras," RIA Novosti news agency quoted Ulyukayev as saying.

He added the ministry has submitted detailed proposals for consideration.

Tsipras is paying an official visit to Moscow this week and held talks with President Vladimir Putin earlier Wednesday.

"The goal of my visit is to try together (with Russia) to give a new beginning to our relationship for the benefit of both nations, as well as for the benefit of regional stability and security in a broader sense," Tsipras said.

Putin also expressed the hope that the visit of Tsipras could bring chance to restore trade between the two countries.

"From 2009 to 2013, trade between our countries grew more than twofold, but there was a 40-percent decline last year," Putin said. "Both parties have agreed to endeavor to bring back trade growth which benefits everyone."

Meanwhile, Putin called for an end to sanction and anti-sanction wars between Russia and Western countries that restricted all relevant parties.

Possibilities of expanding cooperation in agriculture and investment, as well as the Ukraine crisis, are also discussed by Putin and Tsipras.

According to Tsipras, Greece is interested in studying possibilities and investment initiatives for extending the Turkish Stream gas pipeline from the Greek-Turkish border, which is designed to replace the abandoned South Stream Project.

Tsipras' visit to Moscow raised fears in the EU that the West's united anti-Russian front might be breached. Greece has asked the EU to lift economic sanctions against Russia. Endi