Greek PM Alexis Tsipras on Tuesday more-or-less underlined that his radical leftist government has done more than its fair share of compromising and that it’s now European partners-cum-creditors’ turn to ease up on demands.

Moreover, he repeated that his government would not accept more austerity measures, indirectly referring to institutional creditors’ standing demands for labour sector liberalization (an easier regime for layoffs) and cuts in supplementary pensions, for instance. The two issues, along with VAT rates and the course of the 2015 budget remain obstacles in ongoing negotiations to seal a deal for an extension of a loan bailout package for Greece.

Tsipras’ comments, made to his closest Cabinet ministers, were conveyed to the press in the afternoon, after it was initially announced that he would take to the airwaves to make a statement. Instead, the written comments were disseminated.

The leftist leader’s remarks come a day after a Eurogroup meeting mostly conveyed a consensus of “progress, but no deal yet” for the cash-strapped Greek government. Athens on Tuesday also made good on a 750-million-euro instalment to the IMF.

Speaking of the Eurogroup meeting, he said significant progress had been recorded in negotiations with lenders.

Tsipras was quoted as telling ministers – and the outside world, by extension – that his government has taken “numerous steps” in the direction of meeting partners’ views, and that it was now time for creditors to show that they respect the election result of Jan. 25, from which his government emerged victorious.

The Greek PM told Cabinet members that his government is committed to tough negotiations, but always in tandem with ensuring the country’s smooth operation, as he was quoted as saying.