British PM to meet European leaders on Brexit in New York: reports

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is scheduled to fly to New York on Sunday for the annual high-level debate of the UN General Assembly, and he is expected to use the visit for an informal Brexit summit.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson. [File Photo: IC]

Johnson will hold discussions with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, French President Emmanuel Macron, Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar and European Council President Donald Tusk on the sidelines of the General Debate of the General Assembly, which is slated to begin on Tuesday at the UN headquarters, British media reports said on Saturday.

Local newspaper Daily Telegraph, however, said: "No Brexit breakthroughs are thought likely to emerge in New York."

Flying out to New York on Sunday and returning on Wednesday, the prime minister is likely to be in the United States when the British Supreme Court releases its ruling on the legality of the five-week suspension of parliament, which has been promised early next week.

Britain is due to leave the European Union on Oct. 31 unless the bloc agrees to further extend the process. Johnson has said he will not ask for "another pointless delay."