Angela Merkel

Greek and EU officials met for talks Saturday ahead of a high-stakes show-down over Athens' demands for a radical restructuring of its massive international bailout programme.

"It is not a negotiation but an exchange of views to better understand each other's position,» an EU official said of the final huddle before next week's crunch meeting.

A critical meeting will reportedly take place today in Berlin between German Chancellor Angela Merkel and German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble to plan their strategy ahead of the Eurogroup meeting on Monday.
The German government tried to keep the meeting a secret, foreign media say, but Frankfurter Allgemeine newspaper published a relevant report yesterday.

By Ben Sills and Eleni Chrepa

Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras reached out to Greece?s creditors, saying he?ll iron out the kinks in relations with the rest of the euro area days after his government lodged a complaint about the German finance minister.

European stock-index futures rose, signaling equities will complete a second week of gains, on speculation the region?s leaders will reach a compromise with Greece on its bailout terms.

At least 15 people have been killed in east Ukraine in new shelling despite the signing of a peace deal to end the 10-month conflict.
     

European powers warned Russia it risked fresh sanctions if a ceasefire deal aimed at ending the 10-month war between Ukraine troops and pro-Moscow rebels was not implemented.
       

Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov has expressed 'moderate optimism' about the Ukraine ceasefire.

Speaking during Thursday's EU summit in Brussels, he expressed appreciation for the huge efforts of German Chancellor Angela Merkel, French President Francois Hollande, and EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini in the marathon 17-hour talks preceding the Minsk agreement.

Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras meetings in Brussels proved encouraging and investors took note with Greece's main stock market closing around 5.5% higher. His meeting with German Chancellor Angela Austerity appeared warm if body language is anything to judge by.

Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, attending his first EU summit as the head of Greece, met with Eurogroup Chief Jeroen Dijsselbloem.

Angela Merkel:

-Meeting with PM Tsipras was a highly amiable occasion

- Today's summit meeting hardly entailed Greek matters

- I am more than willing to collaborate with Mr. Tsipras

- Greece's bailout program is still in effect, though it should be prolonged

- I am really looking forward to hearing new suggestions