HIGHLIGHTS-EU leaders meet to give Britain second Brexit delay under conditions

European Union leaders meet in Brussels on Wednesday to grant Britain a second Brexit delay, with France pushing the hardest demands on London among the 27 states staying on together in the bloc.

Below please find comments by the EU heads of state ahead of their summit in Brussels: UK PRIME MINISTER THERESA MAY

"I know many people will be frustrated that the summit is taking place at all because the UK should have left the EU by now and I greatly regret the fact that parliament has not passed the deal that would enable us to leave in a smooth and orderly way." "The purpose of this summit is to agree an extension which gives us more time to agree a deal to enable us to leave the EU in a smooth and orderly way."

"I've asked for an extension to June 30 but what is important is that any extension enables us to leave at the point at which we ratify the withdrawal agreement, so we could leave on May 22 and start to build our brighter future." LITHUANIAN PRESIDENT DALIA GRYBAUSKAITE

"I am confident that we will supportive to the request of the prime minister. But it's highly probably that it will be a longer extension than Theresa May wrote in her letter." DUTCH PM MARK RUTTE

"It is very well possible that we will decide to prevent a no deal Brexit tonight." "We will have several important discussions, on how long will an extension be and what conditions will be attached to it. ... There are differing opinions about that."

"We need to make sure that the EU can function, that all member states cooperate loyally." BELGIAN PM CHARLES MICHEL

"It is not certain there will be a delay." "It is not certain what that would mean."

DANISH PM LARS LOKKE RASMUSSEN "We have to do what we need to get an orderly Brexit." (Compiled by Reuters Bureau)