The cheque is in the post.

Greece has confirmed it’s made arrangements for the payment today of a 450 million-euro loan installment to the International Monetary Fund.

There has been intense pressure on Athens to meet its commitments on previous bailout funding, as it negotiates with creditors about future aid.

Eyebrows were raised in European capitals this week amid suggestions that Greece may seek assistance from Russia for its debt problems.

But after a visit to Moscow, Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras gave reassurances that no money was asked for.

He insisted that he wants to resolve the financial problems within the framework of the European Union.