U.S. Pushes to Break Greek Impasse Amid Austerity Concerns
Greece's new Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis (R) and his German counterpart Wolfgang Schaeuble (C) give a joint press conference with German Finance Ministry Spokesman Martin Jaeger (L) following their meeting on Feb. 5, 2015 at the Finance ministry in Berlin.
Photographer: Odd Andersen/AFP via Getty ImagesThe U.S. is trying to step up pressure on Greece and its European creditors to reach a debt accord, signaling increased concern that the stalemate risks harming already-disappointing global economic growth.
Treasury Secretary Jacob J. Lew talked today with Greek Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis, French Finance Minister Michel Sapin and Jeroen Dijsselbloem, who chairs meetings of the 19 euro-area finance ministers, a Treasury official told reporters today during a briefing in Washington on condition of anonymity. Lew has also spoken to his German counterparts and officials at the European Commission and the IMF, the official said.