Britain is due to leave the 28-nation bloc on Oct. 31, and attempts to find a deal have foundered over plans for keeping an open border between EU member Ireland and the U.K.'s Northern Ireland.

A so-called no-deal Brexit would see the return of border checks and tariffs on trade between Britain and the rest of the EU, its greatest trading partner.

Merkel indicated that a solution for the contentious Irish border issue might yet be reached before the Brexit date of Oct. 31.

Talks between Britain's government and opposition aimed at striking a compromise Brexit deal broke down without agreement Friday, plunging the country back into a morass of uncertainty over its departure from the European Union

U.K. Finance Minister Philip Hammond also said he's optimistic about an EU summit on Brexit Wednesday.

May said she would seek a "pragmatic solution" to a parliamentary impasse over the terms on which Britain leaves the European Union when she tries to reopen talks with Brussels.

There is still a one-in-four chance Britain and the European Union part ways in less than six months without reaching a deal, according to a Reuters poll

"There is a better solution ... It is the Super Canada, zero tariff, zero quota, free trade deal at the heart of a deep and special partnership. It is right for both sides, and it is time to go for it," wrote Boris Johnson.

The British government said there were still “unresolved issues” but it remained committed to making progress at an EU summit starting Wednesday.

Britain has offered to pay much of what the European Union was demanding to settle a Brexit "divorce bill."