Germany won’t spare Greek pain – it has an interest in breaking us | Yanis Varoufakis

Debt restructuring has always been our aim in negotiations - but for some eurozone leaders Grexit is the goal

Greece's financial drama has dominated the headlines for five years for one reason: the stubborn refusal of our creditors to offer essential debt relief. Why, against common sense, against the IMF's verdict and against the everyday practices of bankers facing stressed debtors, do they resist a debt restructure? The answer cannot be found in economics because it resides deep in Europe's labyrinthine politics.

In 2010, the Greek state became insolvent. Two options consistent with continuing membership of the eurozone presented themselves: the sensible one, that any decent banker would recommend - restructuring the debt and reforming the economy; and the toxic option - extending new loans to a bankrupt entity while pretending that it remains solvent.

Europe did not know how to respond to the financial crisis. Should it prepare for an expulsion (Grexit) or a federation?