„If I agree to such an escrow, I may as well not go back,“ a second source who was present at the summit quoted Tsipras as telling fellow leaders after Merkel demanded that he place 50 billion euros of state assets in Luxembourg, out of reach of his government. Cash generated would then pay off Athens‘ creditors.

„I can buy a ticket to fly to any other country,“ Tsipras said. „Because back home they‘ll think that I sold out Greece.“