Putin Salutes Tsipras Win as He Courts Europe’s Upstart Parties

By Ott Ummelas and Jake Rudnitsky Jan 26, 2015 9:41 AM ET

Russian President Vladimir Putin sent the new Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras a congratulatory telegram after his far-left party won national elections, offering to boost cooperation between the countries.

Putin wished Tsipras success in “difficult conditions,” and said the two countries will continue to cooperate in resolving European and global issues.

Euro-area finance ministers are gathering Monday in Brussels to discuss Greece. Tsipras said in a post-election speech that his priority is “for Greece and its people to regain their lost dignity,” after his Syriza party won a mandate to confront an austerity program imposed in return for pledges of 240 billion euros ($270 billion) in aid since May 2010.

Syriza won its historic election victory by harnessing a public backlash against years of belt-tightening, job losses and hardship. Putin, who has cultivated ties to non-establishment political parties in Europe including Britain’s UKIP and France’s National Front, is being threatened with additional European Union sanctions over the conflict in eastern Ukraine.

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http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2015-01-26/putin-salutes-tsipras-win-as-he-courts-europe-s-upstart-parties.html