VILNIUS, July 24 (Xinhua) -- The European Union does not want to punish the United Kingdom, however it will be difficult to restore harmonious bilateral relations as Brexit negotiations with the current UK government are complicated, Linas Linkevicius, Lithuania's minister of foreign affairs, said on Tuesday.
"It is a very complicated process, the UK government is really divided. Key Brexit ministers, the secretary of foreign affairs Boris Johnson and Brexit secretary David Davis have resigned. Even if other members of the cabinet look united, it is obvious that there is a lot of discontent among Brexit ideologists," Linkevicius said in an interview with local radio broadcaster Ziniu Radijas.
In his words, "the gap between so called hard and soft Brexit is not abating."
"In such a situation it is difficult for the UK to speak with Brussels. Obviously, the outcome without agreement would have grave consequences," the minister underlined.
There will be no winners after the Brexit process is finished, Linkevicius added.
"The goal is to find a rational decision. We are seeking for rational and bilaterally beneficious future relationship between the EU and the UK. However, without any doubts, they will be never as close as during the UK's membership in the EU," Linkevicius said.
Earlier in July, Brexit secretary David Davis and UK Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson resigned from the UK government amid growing political crisis over the UK's Brexit strategy.
The EU and UK expect to finish Brexit negotiations in fall 2018. The UK is to leave the EU on March 29, 2019.
