The European Council President lashed out as series of covert briefings emerged out of London that left negotiations on the brink of collapse. In reference to the Prime Minister’s classical education, the eurocrat demanded answers on what direction Britain is heading in Latin. Writing on Twitter, Mr Tusk said: “Boris Johnson, what’s at stake is not winning some stupid blame game.

“At stake is the future of Europe and the EU, as well as, the security and interests of our people.

“You don’t want a deal, you don’t want an extension, you don’t want to revoke, quo vadis?”

Mr Tusk’s pay-off is a reference to a latin phrase, which means “where are you marching”.

His comments whipped up fury amongst Brexiteers, who accused EU’s most senior offical of damaging the prospects of a deal being struck in the coming days.

Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage said: “Mr Tusk is right — the future of the EU is at stake.

“The sooner this monstrous project is killed off, the better.

“A Europe of peaceful, democratic nations will be far better.”

Tory MP Steve Baker, head of the European Research Group, said: “We’d like a deal. We’d like to end up in a relationship of the character the EU offered us last year. For the whole of the UK.

“But the EU has been encouraged by our weak and incompetent Parliament to think Northern Ireland is the price.

“That’s wrong. Boris is right to defend our Union.”

Mr Tusk’s intervention comes as a signal that negotiations between the UK and EU have completely broken down, just hours after promising to continue working together towards a deal.

Ireland’s deputy premier Simon Coveney said the eurocrat’s response was an accurate reflection of the EU’s current thinking on Brexit.

Writing on Twitter, Mr Coveney said: “Hard to disagree – reflects the frustration across EU and the enormity of what’s at stake for us all.

“We remain open to finalise a fair Brexit deal but need a UK Government willing to work with EU to get it done.”

The EU Council chief and Angela Merkel are due to meet later this afternoon.

The German Chancellor told Mr Johnson, during a phone call, that chances of a deal are “very unlikely”, according to a Number 10 source.

“The call with Merkel showed the EU has adopted a new position. She made clear a deal is overwhelmingly unlikely and she thinks the EU has a veto on us leaving the customs union.

“Merkel said that if Germany wanted to leave the EU they could do it with no problem but the UK cannot leave without leaving Northern Ireland behind in a customs union and in full alignment forever.

“She said that Ireland is the government’s special problem and Ireland must at least have a veto on Northern Ireland leaving.

“Merkel said that the PM should tell Northern Ireland that it must stay in full alignment forever, but that even this would not eliminate customs issue.”

SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon added: “The UK government’s attempt to shift the blame for the Brexit fiasco to anyone but themselves – today it’s Merkel – is pathetically transparent.”

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