Greek officials have previously pointed to Russia as a possible alternative sour

[hua_hui]

Greece has not received bailout funds since August last year, as the lenders are dissatisfied with the pace of Greek reforms. Greece's new government is embroiled in negotiations with the EU and IMF to unblock a bailout package. A Greek repayment of €448m to the International Monetary Fund is due this Thursday. Greece is needing support from outside EU.
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-32213161

[qiwoman2]

I said from the beginning when Tsipras got elected that he surely has more than one ace up his sleeve. He is firm in not backing down and relenting to the EU to be involved with the Troika again because that is what he got elected for to get Greece out of being a peripheral slave to the the Northern EuropeansMasters and also bent on it's knees because of the rich tax evaders and corrupt politicians from within the country itself.

[ashour]

China will play an important role as well, since the Chinese are really interested in the Piraeus port. Russian and China will probably help Greece for exchanges like the Piraeus port etc.

[BitmoreCoin]

China will play an important role as well, since the Chinese are really interested in the Piraeus port. Russian and China will probably help Greece for exchanges like the Piraeus port etc.

Greece can sell the Piraeus port and pass a law to get it back later.

[BillyBobZorton]

I said from the beginning when Tsipras got elected that he surely has more than one ace up his sleeve. He is firm in not backing down and relenting to the EU to be involved with the Troika again because that is what he got elected for to get Greece out of being a peripheral slave to the the Northern EuropeansMasters and also bent on it's knees because of the rich tax evaders and corrupt politicians from within the country itself.

Well, they've been paying anyway and they've said again that they want to remain in the European union.. so they aren't that hardcore about their sovereignty, otherwise they would have gotten the fuck out the Euro and back to Drachma ages ago.

[maku]

Why EU keep trying to help Greece? They know that Greeks brought this crisis upon themselves, by years and years of bad management of their economy. Why now EU or any other country need to pay their debt?
Greece should follow Iceland steps and file for bankruptcy of nation, also they should abandon the €. It is bad currency for underdeveloped economics like Greece has.

[aso118]

When Putin hands help to someone, he's going to want x3 back... so I don't know what Tsipras is trying to do. They are going to run away from a debt to get into another debt. The question is if it's worth it.

He is probably using the threat of Russia to get a better deal from the EU. 

[countryfree]

Greece may get some help from Russia, but I wonder what Russia will ask in return. Nothing's free.

[Netnox]

If greece exits the euro then the euro is done as the trust is gone and the concept has failed and more south european countries will follow. euro should just stay between west european countries. I would just exit euro if i were greece like switzerland and england are.

[Natalia_AnatolioPAMM]

Greece may get some help from Russia, but I wonder what Russia will ask in return. Nothing's free.

 I think a bit better reputation would be enough

[oblivi]

Varoufakis and Tsipras are getting ready to leave the eurozone playing the ambiguity game, while gaining alliances on the side. It's all set and done already.

[Hazir]

Greece may get some help from Russia, but I wonder what Russia will ask in return. Nothing's free.

 I think a bit better reputation would be enough

Not for Russians, they don't care about their reputation or how western nations are perceiving them. They just want to dominate and rule others. It would be a grim day when Greece will become another Russia's tool.
Honestly it would be best for Greece to just leave eurozone and abandon European Union. They need to test how to deal with Russia without losing more than they have in the process.

[NUFCrichard]

Greece may get some help from Russia, but I wonder what Russia will ask in return. Nothing's free.

 I think a bit better reputation would be enough

Not for Russians, they don't care about their reputation or how western nations are perceiving them. They just want to dominate and rule others. It would be a grim day when Greece will become another Russia's tool.
Honestly it would be best for Greece to just leave eurozone and abandon European Union. They need to test how to deal with Russia without losing more than they have in the process.

I see Russia as more of the wildcard that goes against what the west wants.

They don't do everything right, for example gay rights and dodgy elections, but I like a lot of their politics.  They are moving towards a gold backed currency and are generally against getting involved in wars (that aren't on their own doorstep).  As I say, they aren't perfect, but there are lots of things we could adopt from them.

If they help out Greece it will be very interesting, their GDP per person is lots less than Greece's, how often have poorer countries bailed out richer ones?

[ashour]

Greece may get some help from Russia, but I wonder what Russia will ask in return. Nothing's free.

 I think a bit better reputation would be enough

Russia will probably want an ally in the area, and that would be Greece.  The greek Piraeus port is really important for the Russians and Chinese that is why the two countries are so engaged to make deals.

[aso118]

If they help out Greece it will be very interesting, their GDP per person is lots less than Greece's, how often have poorer countries bailed out richer ones?

I would say it is comparable. On a PPP basis, Russia has a per capita GDP of $24.3K vs Greece's $25.1K in 2013. I guess 2014 figures would be a lot worse for Greece. 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_GDP_%28PPP%29_per_capita

[NUFCrichard]

If they help out Greece it will be very interesting, their GDP per person is lots less than Greece's, how often have poorer countries bailed out richer ones?

I would say it is comparable. On a PPP basis, Russia has a per capita GDP of $24.3K vs Greece's $25.1K in 2013. I guess 2014 figures would be a lot worse for Greece. 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_GDP_%28PPP%29_per_capita

I'm not sure about that, Russia hardly had a great 2014 with so many sanctions against them and the price of oil plummeting!
Greece has slowed their decline, there was a time last year when they were the fastest growing economy in the EU, that's a bit like a tallest dwarf competition, but it was the case (I think in Q3 2014)

[deisik]

Greece may get some help from Russia, but I wonder what Russia will ask in return. Nothing's free.

This is no brainer. They will most obviously ask to lift sanctions (if Greece leaves the EU, it will apparently be no longer bound by them), or, at least, make it more difficult to impose new ones in the future, if it comes to that and Greece remains in the EU. Actually, Greece is not the only country in the EU which is not happy with the idea of sanctions against Russia, so Putin is evidently trying to split the EU from inside in the matter...

[cellard]

They only have 2 ways out from this dead end:

1) Go on with the reforms and keep paying the debt, which will frustrate everyone that voted them.
2) Take the risk and become sovereign, with the possibility of shit backfiring and ending up even worse.

[galbros]

The Russians have major problems of their own.  Unless Greece thinks purchasing some second hand military gear is the answer, Putin has little to offer.  This was pretty clear after their summit meeting a few days ago, Putin offers moral support, but nothing else.

The "good" news is that a Greek exit now would not be so disruptive to the rest of Europe.

[deisik]

They only have 2 ways out from this dead end:

1) Go on with the reforms and keep paying the debt, which will frustrate everyone that voted them.
2) Take the risk and become sovereign, with the possibility of shit backfiring and ending up even worse.

It makes sense to take the risk and become sovereign, thus defaulting on their debt, but to go on with reforms paying out the debt? I guess most Greeks think that someone else should pay for the reforms in question, and to a point I understand them...