Donald Tusk will urge EU leaders to accept Boris Johnson's reluctant request for a Brexit delay after MPs rejected the Prime Minister's move to fast-track his deal through Parliament.
An extension to the October 31 deadline looked likely after the President of the European Council said he would tell heads of state to back one following key votes in the Commons on Tuesday night.
Mr Johnson earlier said he would pause the Withdrawal Agreement Bill and "accelerate" no deal preparations after MPs rejected his three-day timetable for Commons debates on his Brexit plan.
Reacting to the outcome of the votes, Mr Tusk tweeted: "Following PM @BorisJohnson’s decision to pause the process of ratification of the Withdrawal Agreement, and in order to avoid a no-deal #Brexit, I will recommend the EU27 accept the UK request for an extension."
He signalled that he would also recommend to heads of state and government that they sign off on extension without the need for a summit.
It is likely an extension to the Brexit process would be until the end of January, with the option of leaving earlier.
Under the terms of the so-called Benn Act, Mr Johnson was forced to write to the EU at the weekend seeking an extension after failing to win the support of the Commons at Saturday's special sitting.
The Prime Minister told MPs: "We now face further uncertainty and the EU must now make up their minds over how to answer Parliament's request for a delay.
"One way or another we will leave the EU with this deal to which this House has just given its assent."
