Merkel told a finance conference in Frankfurt that a “very intensive trade deal” was the most likely future relationship with the U.K. | Thomas Lohnes/Getty Images Angela Merkel: I can’t rule out Brexit talks breakdown German chancellor says a ‘very intensive trade deal’ is most likely outcome.

A breakdown of the Brexit talks cannot be ruled out, German Chancellor Angela Merkel told financial leaders Tuesday.

In a rare comment on the negotiations, Merkel told a finance conference in Frankfurt that a "very intensive trade deal" is the most likely future relationship with the U.K.

“We don’t want the discussions to break down,” Merkel said, according to Reuters. “But we also can’t fully rule that out because we still have no result. But I promise you that we will use all our force and creativity to make sure a deal happens.”

“We must in autumn finalize the question of divorce and set out in a the clearest way possible how the future relations will look like,” she said. “We assume that Britain will be a third country and a very intensive trade deal would be the basis of our future relations.”