France hopeful of reaching Brexit deal but not by this week

France is confident a Brexit deal can be struck, though unlikely by Wednesday night when EU leaders meet in Brussels, with the Irish border among the trickiest of issues to resolve, an official in the French presidency said on Tuesday.

"We remain confident in the idea a deal can be reached, though probably not by Wednesday night," the official briefed journalists.

"We already said in Salzburg that we were at a moment of truth, time is running out," the official added.