British PM Boris Johnson arrives in Brussels ahead of Brexit dinner

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson./Getty Images

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has arrived in Brussels for dinner with European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen in a last effort to salvage negotiations on a post-Brexit trade deal.

In a tweet, the prime minister insisted the UK "will prosper mightily as an independent nation" - irrespective of whether the two sides "agree trading arrangements resembling those of Australia or Canada".

Before leaving Downing Street, the prime minister told the Commons that "a good deal is there to be done" with the EU on trade - but says the bloc is currently insisting on terms which no prime minister could accept.

The PM will have a crunch dinner with Ms Von Der Leyen at around 7.30pm as he tries to salvage the chances of getting a deal done in time for New Year.

They will have a short meeting with their chief negotiators David Frost and Michel Barnier before all four have a meal together - alongside a handful of aides.

Any deal must be signed and backed by both Westminster and the EU Parliament before 31 December, sparking fears of weeks of festive back and forth.

On Tuesday Britain's chief negotiator David Frost and his EU counterpart Michel Barnier drew up a list of outstanding areas of disagreement over fishing, red tape and state backed subsidies for businesses.

(With input from agencies)