Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras said he was "confident" about progress in renegotiating Greece`s debt at a crucial eurozone meeting on Monday, in an interview with German media.
The left-wing government of debt-hit Greece wants to end a punishing austerity programme that their centre-right predecessors agreed to in return for international bailout funds.
"We don`t need money, we need time to realise our reform plans," Tsipras was quoted as saying by German news weekly Stern on Sunday.
"I promise you Greece will be a different country in six months."
Monday`s meeting of eurozone finance ministers in Brussels will be a high-stakes gamble that could see Greece forced out of the eurozone if a deal is not found by the end of the month.
"I expect difficult negotiations on Monday. However, I am confident," Tsipras said. "I draw strength from the support of the people."
He also said: "I`m looking for a solution in which all sides win. I want a win-win solution. I want to save Greece from tragedy and prevent Europe from being divided."
To reach a deal, Greece will need the backing of Europe`s biggest economy and effective paymaster, Germany.
Speaking about his brief meeting last week with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Tsipras said: "I perceived her as a polite person. She is not as strict as the media make her out to be."
Above all, he said, he saw Merkel as a pragmatic politician who would not want to jeopardise the future of Europe.