Greek Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis described as “productive” and “extremely friendly” his discussion with his German counterpart Wolfgang Schaeuble in Berlin on Monday.

“Dr Schaeuble and I had a long productive conversation,” said Varoufakis after their meeting. “We were not negotiating, we were establishing common ground.”

“These are difficult moments for the European Union and the euro zone in particular and it is the duty of elected politicians to take their responsibility to a higher level in order to try to achieve an agreement that is absolutely essential for the integrity of the euro zone, absolutely essential for the European Union and it is a historic duty which we cannot abrogate.”