GREECE-RUSSIA-POLITICS-DIPLOMACY-ENERGY

Russian President Vladimir Putin talks with his Greek counterpart Prokopis Pavlopoulos (not pictured) during their meeting at the Presidental mansion in Athens on May 27, 2016. Putin visits Greece aiming to reinforce a relationship with one of his few friends in the EU amid continuing diplomatic tensions with the West. The visit -- Putin's first to the EU since December -- comes as the bloc's leaders are to discuss next month whether to renew sanctions on Russia's banking, defence and energy sectors that expire in July. / AFP / POOL / LOUISA GOULIAMAKI (Photo credit should read LOUISA GOULIAMAKI/AFP via Getty Images)