Eurozone finance ministers rejected a last-minute appeal by Alexis Tsipras, the Greek prime minister, to extend his country’s bailout just hours before it expired, denying Athens a lifeline as its financial system teeters on the brink of collapse.
In a hurriedly-organised conference call, the ministers also reacted coolly to an unexpected request from Mr Tsipras for a third bailout. The €29.1bn request, sent to the eurozone’s €500bn rescue fund on Tuesday, was the latest twist in Greece’s acrimonious stand-off with its international creditors and took many in Brussels by surprise.
Some European officials dismissed the appeal out of hand while others speculated it was an attempt by Mr Tsipras to strengthen his hand domestically ahead ofSunday’s referendum on a previous bailout offer.