brussels diplomatic theatrics last week brussels summit reveal european union leaders coax british prime minister theresa may next two months part tens billions euros return post-brexit trade deal may give away nothing hardliners conservative cabinet beat stick early vague concessions honor commitments insist brexit bill eu reckon around 60 billion euros 70 billion must part package deal britain relationship eu leave march 2019. stick script 27 state give may next regular summit eight weeks improve offer officials estimate 20 billion euros want start discuss future trade tie miss deadline eu say time run deal yet line well-rehearsed arguments hit deadlock view eu negotiator outline political fix emerge may create leeway get round impasse neither side interest leave businesses fear legal limbo messy divorce essence 27 need trust may britain pay much table understand difficulties name figure december could spark revolt home derail process return seem likely let slip hint kind future relationship might secure eu position solid italian prime minister paolo gentiloni tell reporters talk also flexible unrealistic say expect may sell precise demand money december equally could expect eu negotiate future trade deal without know roughly outstanding items britain would pay define items could gentiloni say do politically manageable way possible british friends even rough definitions let commentators work number senior diplomat another major eu power put want go public bald figure front page sun whole process dead underline grow appreciation may limit room maneuver european commission president jean-claude juncker quote german newspaper sunday tell aid find may despondent meet last monday beset party coup plot ask europeans help aware trouble eu leaders accentuate positive report deadlock ... exaggerate summit chair donald tusk conclude add discussions may finally succeed establish trust goodwill tusk former polish premier echo eu mantra unity among 27 full back european commission negotiator michel barnier whose team technical experts handle talk london also acknowledge nuance role steer high-level political imperatives leaders tusk say mean would positive motivator come weeks create positive narrative british politicians call eu blackmail demand anxious worsen may trouble home fellow leaders make effort demonstrate goodwill german chancellor angela merkel french president emmanuel macron take hard line sequence divorce talk trade huddle may amicable conversation television cameras eu communique acknowledge progress key issue also comprise expatriate right irish border instruct barnier begin internal eu preparations talk may want two-year transition period brexit tusk say eu preparations would take account proposals present british friends indication even without direct talk may might able show domestic audience outline eu see future tie dinner thursday appeal help stress two concessions make speech florence sept. 22 27 would lose financially current eu budget end 2020 britain would honor commitments disappoint repeat britain rejection legal basis much eu demand notably pay eu commitments last beyond 2020. macron one say even half way toward agreement money others detect positive tone luxembourg prime minister xavier bettel say may indicate britain least analyze part bill might pay merkel say doubt good agreement possible yet illusions brexit plot play smoothly always predict drama autumn one eu diplomat say see yet maybe november talk nice eu script help may settle brexit bill