The upcoming week would be “very significant” for Brexit as both sides are trying to reach a trade deal with five weeks to go before their current relationship ends said United Kingdom’s Foreign Minister Dominic Raab on Sunday. In conversation with a news channel, the minister referred to the time period as the “last real major week subject to any further postponement”, adding it“is a very significant week”.

Additionally, Raab added that the negotiations were now down to two basic issues, and clued at the positive outcome of the deal if the European Union showed pragmatism. A newspaper reported UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson and EU Commission president Ursula von der Leyen would speak in the next 48 hours. Reuters has denied the report. The first sign of movement, either towards reaching a deal or towards setbacks is likely to be a call between Johnson and von der Leyen, as per the current situation. The European Commission is on its way to "lean on" EU negotiator Michel Barnier to reach a deal with Britain, raising hopes that an agreement could come, reported a news agency. 

EU negotiator Michel Barnier said he was "very happy" to be back in London and would keep working with "patience and determination". Barnier and Britain's negotiator David Frost are working to sign a deal before the UK's transition period with the EU ends on December 31. Both sides said on Friday that there were still big differences to overcome, as both expects other to compromise on the three main issues - fishing, state aid and how to resolve future disputes, if any. 

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