Maas and Barnier on Brexit talks amid lockdown

Despite devastating ecomic fallout from coronavirus pandemic, Britain is making scant effort to negotiate a far-reaching free tre deal in wake of Brexit that would stave off a costly final separation at end of year, European Union said Friday.

EU negotiator Michel Barnier said his British counterparts keep insisting on unrealistic delines and demands that could only le to a chaotic tre rupture which would mean ecomic losses on both sides.

Barnier said UK simply cant refuse an extension of transition period as on many essential issues such as fishing industry an agreement hasn't yet been achieved.

Britain officially left 27-nation bloc on January 31, but remains within EU's ecomic orbit, including its single market for tre in goods and services, until end of 2020.

two sides have until n to work out a new relationship covering tre, security and a host of or issues.

But both sides have been hardly-hit by coronavirus pandemic as both Barnier and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson contracted COVID-19.

Meanwhile, Germany's Foreign Minister Heiko Maas pointed out on Friday morning that upcoming Brexit negotiations between Great Britain and EU would "t become easier" under influence of coronavirus crisis.

As things stand at present, negotiations will be concluded in second half of year, when Germany will hold EU Presidency.

Maas said that y will do everything possible to make sure that negotiations will le to a good result on both sides.