Putin: “Grexit” speculation could be harmful to the European Union and Greece

(Sputnik) – Speculation over Greece’s possible exit from the Eurozone (“Grexit”) amid the country’s massive debt could be harmful both to the European Union and the Greek economy, Russian President Vladimir Putin said in an interview with Italian newspaper Il Corriere della Sera ahead of his visit to Milan.

“We are developing relations with Greece regardless of whether it is a member of the EU, is part of the Eurozone or is a NATO member. We have very close historical partnership ties with Greece,” Putin said, stressing that it is the “sovereign right” of the Greek people to decide on different alliance and zone memberships.

The Russian president added that it could be harmful to the Greek and EU economy to speculate on the future development of events in Greece.