Greek prime minister reaches out to Vladimir Putin for help in financial crisis

Alexis Tsipras in Russia dismisses criticism that he should be in Brussels solving debt standoff: 'We are ready to go to new seas to reach new safe ports'

Alexis Tsipras, the Greek prime minister, has made a broad overture to Russia as he seeks a way out of his country's debt and currency impasse, telling Vladimir Putin that Greece wants new partners to help it out of the crisis.

In a speech delivered in front of Putin in Russia, Tsipras said Moscow was one of Greece's most important partners, and dismissed critics who wondered why he was in St Petersburg and not in Brussels trying to secure an urgent deal with European creditors.

Related: Greek crisis: ECB provides more emergency help to avert bank run - reports

Membership Event: Guardian Newsroom: Should Greece leave the Euro?