Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias met yesterday with his Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov in Moscow. In a joint statement following the meeting, Kotzias noted that "Greece is always available, if such a request is made, to contribute to mediation between the EU and Russia. To contribute to mediation on problems that exist in the region, because we are a European state, but at the same time we are a state that has major and firm cultural, historical ties with Russia." He also emphasised that the solution in the crisis in Ukraine lies in diplomacy and briefed his counterpart on the major problems of the Greek community in Mariupol and the surrounding villages.

On his part, Sergey Lavrov welcomed Greece’s constructive stance in the Russia-EU relations and noted the good prospects for Greek-Russian cooperation in the sectors of trade, energy and economy.

He also made special reference to 2016 - the Year of Greece in Russia and the Year of Russia in Greece - noting that "there is already a bilateral mechanism which is dealing with the preparations for these important events."