Mubasher: The Brexit negotiations in Brussels have hit a stalemate following late-night talks between UK ministers and the European Union’s (EU) chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier.

Brexit talks “have been difficult” and “no solution has been identified at this point that is consistent with the withdrawal agreement including the protocol on Northern Ireland, which as you all know will not be reopened,” the European Commission spokesman disclosed.

Although the negotiations had been conducted in a “constructive atmosphere,” they yielded no breakthrough progress, the EU’s executive arm said.

“Both sides have exchanged robust, strong views,” the UK's Attorney General Geoffrey Cox said shortly after talks with the EU Brexit negotiator, noting that that the “talks will be resuming soon.”

“We're into the meat of the matter, we've put forward very reasonable proposals,” Cox added.

The Irish border backstop, the main sticking point in Brexit talks, is an insurance policy with the aim to avoid hard border between Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic “under all circumstances.”

Prime Minister Theresa May pushes to get changes to the terms of the backstop in order to prevent the UK from being tied to EU customs rules, should London and Brussels fail to ink a permanent post-Brexit trade pact.

In response, the EU leaders consistently rejected to rewrite the hard-won accord which was struck with Premier May last November.