Brexit: Donald Tusk agrees to meet Theresa May amid stalled talks and resignation of top UK adviser

Talks come amid stalling negotiations between UK and EU counterparts

Donald Tusk's role of European Council president would be rolled into that of Mr Juncker under plans unveiled by Mr Juncker (AP)

Donald Tusk has said he will meet with Theresa May next week to discuss Brexit after the Prime Minister's major speech in Florence.

The President of the European Council posted a picture of him talking with the Prime Minister at the United Nations General Assembly, where they agreed to talk in London.

The news comes amid reports of stalled negotiations between UK and EU officials and the resignation of Oliver Robbins, the former Brexit Permanent Secretary. Ms May claimed his resignation was good timing as the UK entered a "more detailed and more intense" stage of negotiations, and that he would continue to have a role in the team.

Mr Tusk and Ms May's meeting also comes after Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson laid out his 10-point plan for Brexit in The Telegraph, sparking rumours of his leadership bid and his reported frustration at being left out of the loop.

On the plane to meet Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau this week, Ms May insisted that "Boris was Boris".

She also claimed that the Government "was being driven from the front", continuing an allegory that Home Secretary Amber Rudd started by asking Boris to stop his "backseat driving".

Mr Johnson has denied reports that he would resign if Ms May rejected his Brexit demands.

Questioned by reporters on apparent disarray regarding her plan for Brexit, Ms May said she was clear from the start, pointing to her speech at Lancaster House in January and the letter to trigger Article 50 a few months later, which signals the UK's formal intention to leave the EU and which must be completed by spring 2019.

Now all eyes are on the Prime Minister's speech in Florence on her approach to leaving the EU this week.

Critics have raised concerns as to whether she will give any more clarity on issues such as the customs union or the single market, and what concessions to the EU she will suggest.

Most recent arguments have centred around the so-called divorce bill, which requires the UK to potentially pay billions of pounds to leave the EU.

Some reports cited as much as £50 billion. Mr Johnson came under fire for recently saying EU ministers can "go whistle" if they expected payment.