The British Prime Minister's spokesperson says Theresa May "deeply regrets" that the UK will have to take part in European elections later this month.
They elections will now happen on May 23rd after the government failed to get its Brexit deal through parliament in time to avoid them.
This month's vote will take place almost three years after the Brexit referendum.
Opinion polls in the UK have shown Nigel Farage's newly-formed Brexit party and Labour as enjoying most support ahead of the vote - with the former leading in several recent polls.
The Conservatives, meanwhile, will be going into the election having suffered heavy losses in last week's local elections.
In a statement quoted by The Guardian, Theresa May's spokesperson said the Conservative leader acknowledges that "many members of the public will feel great frustration" that the UK is taking part in the elections.
The statement adds: "We now wish to see the withdrawal agreement introduced, and ratified by parliament, as soon as possible – and ideally before MEPs take their seats.”
Meanwhile, negotiations between the British government and Labour resumed today, with the two sides still attempting to decide whether a compromise can be reached to break the Brexit deadlock in the House of Commons.
On his way in to talks, Labour's shadow Brexit secretary Keir Starmer said it's "crunch time".
He observed: "The government's got to decide whether it's serious about significant changes capable of actually delivering a majority in the House of Commons - we're going to be pressing them hard on that."
Talks have since wrapped up for the evening, and are set to continue tomorrow.
