The European Union has softened its public stance on Britain's exit from the bloc, with Council President Donald Tusk signalling some flexibility on allowing talks on a new relationship before the divorce is complete.
Tusk insists Brussels will take a "constructive" approach and wants to keep the UK as a "close partner" on trade and security in the future.
The EU's draft Brexit guidelines were unveiled by Tusk in Malta on Friday and have been distributed to Britain's 27 EU partners.
They say the EU and Britain must first "settle the disentanglement" of Britain from the bloc but add "an overall understanding on the framework for the future relationship could be identified during the second phase of the negotiations under Article 50".
Another priority is to settle questions about British and other European citizens living in each other's countries, and find "flexible and imaginative solutions" for the UK's land border with Ireland.
EU leaders warn the two years of Brexit talks triggered this week will be difficult but insist they do not want all-out economic or diplomatic conflict.
Tusk said the EU would not punish Britain in the talks, saying Brexit itself was "punitive enough".
The head of the rotating EU presidency, Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat, insisted the negotiations "will not be a war".
Tusk said there would be no parallel discussions about Britain's exit and its future relationship with the EU but the negotiations could move to a second phase if there was "sufficient progress" in the exit talks.
A spokesman for May said the guidelines showed a constructive approach.
"It is clear both sides wish to approach these talks constructively, and as the prime minister said this week, wish to ensure a deep and special partnership between the UK and the European Union," he said.
Tusk will visit London for talks with May before a special EU summit on April 29, when the negotiating guidelines are expected to be approved.
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