Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras expressed optimism that there would soon be positive results in negotiations between Greece and its international creditors from the European Commission, European Central Bank and International Monetary Fund. “We’re on the final stretch,” he said on Wednesday. “We’re close to a deal. This agreement will be positive for the Greek economy. It will redistribute weights and I believe we will be able to present more details soon.”

He pointed to a false sense of danger that is being created, asking Greeks to “shut their ears to alarmists” as there is no risk for wages, pensions, banks and bank deposits. “Today and tomorrow wages and pensions will be paid on time, even though for the past four months there are fake reports that the Greek economy is collapsing,” he said.

Unfortunately, Tsipras’ optimism is not reflected by Greece’s EU partners. While Tsipras was reassuring the Greek people, German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble was making his own statements to the press, expressing surprise that Athens believes that it is close to a deal. “Negotiations between the Greek government and the institutions haven’t progressed much,” said Schaeuble, speaking with Germany’s ARD TV. “Nobody really knows. We keep hearing positive news from Greece, and that’s good, but in essence talks haven’t gone far.”