Brexit: PM to meet EU chief on Wednesday for trade talks

Boris Johnson will meet EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Wednesday evening in a bid to unblock talks on a post-Brexit trade deal.

It comes after a phone call between the two leaders on Monday failed to produce a breakthrough.

In a joint statement afterwards, they said the conditions for an agreement were "not there".

EU leaders are also due to hold a separate summit from Thursday.

Earlier, Mr Johnson said he hoped the "power of sweet reason" will allow both sides to clinch an agreement before a 31 December deadline.

If an agreement is not reached and ratified by this date, the UK and EU could introduce import charges on each other's goods.