April 27, 2016 - 17:28 AMT
EU head resists Greece's demand for summit on talks with creditors

The head of the European Union is resisting Greece's demand for an emergency leaders' summit on the country's troubled bailout program, arguing that finance officials need to resume talks and agree within days on reforms needed, the Associated Press reports.

Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras spoke Wednesday, April 27 with European Union Council President Donald Tusk to propose the meeting of leaders from the 19 European countries that use the euro currency. But Tusk sounded skeptical, arguing the finance ministers should make more progress before the leaders intervene.

In Brussels, Tusk said he would consult with the top officials from the eurozone and the EU executive Commission but added that the eurozone finance chiefs — known as the eurogroup — need to set another meeting date by which they should agree on a deal.

"I am talking not about weeks but about days," he told reporters.

Tsipras' office said the prime minister would talk with Tusk again Thursday morning.

EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini voiced confidence a deal can be reached "in a very limited time."

"We believe all conditions are there to find a solution at the eurogroup meeting very soon," she said.