Putin told Hollande Greece sought to print drachmas in Russia, according to new book

Russian President Vladimir Putin was asked by Greek officials if Athens could print drachmas in Russia, Francois Hollande has acknowledged in a new book in which the French president claims that the Greek request came a day after the nation’s bailout referendum on July 5, 2015.

In “A President Shouldn’t Say That,” based on a series of interviews with Hollande by two journalists from daily Le Monde, the French president is quoted as saying he received a call from Putin, who allegedly told him that “Greece asked us to print drachmas in Russia because they no longer have a printing machine to do so.”

The request did not go down well with Putin, according to Hollande, who was allegedly puzzled by the motives of the Russian president.

Sources close to Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras rejected the allegation.