European Council President Donald Tusk addresses reporters during the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) summit just outside Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, July 16, 2016. REUTERS/Damir Sagolj

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - European Council head Donald Tusk told Britain’s Prime Minister Theresa May on Tuesday that he hoped to bring about a “velvet divorce” after Britain’s historic vote last month to leave the European Union.

“Told PM @Theresa_May today that we need an orderly, calm #Brexit, something like a ‘velvet divorce’,” Tusk wrote on Twitter after talking on the phone with the new British leader.