Hopes for debt deal low despite French push

European officials indicated on Monday that they had few hopes for a comprehensive agreement at Thursday's Eurogroup that will pave the way for Greece to join the European Central Bank's quantitative easing plan, despite a French push for a deal.

France's economy minister, Bruno Le Maire, was in Athens Monday to discuss a proposal whereby relief measures for Greece's mountainous debt would be strengthened when growth is weak and relaxed when growth is strong. However, he admitted that securing a deal would be "difficult and complex."

Towards the end of their televised exchange, Le Maire showed Tsipras a small bracelet on his wrist which he said he bought while on the Aegean island of Amorgos and which symbolizes luck. "With our optimism and with the luck of the Greek gods, we will make it," he said.

Tsipras, for his part, sought to appear confident that a...