And in Brussels, no new assurances - no new talks. That's the message European Union leaders gave to British Prime Minister Theresa May at a summit. She is desperate to get assurances on her Brexit deal -- to help it pass the UK Parliament. CGTN's Mariam Zaidi has more.

It was the last EU summit before Christmas and all through the EU's house, not a leader was stirring, not even an ounce.

UK Prime Minister Theresa May - who had seen off a rebellion to her premiership by her own MPs late on Wednesday night- came back to Brussels on Thursday to win legal assurances from EU leaders on the Irish border backstop and get her Brexit deal passed in the UK by the end of January.

THERESA MAY UK PRIME MINISTER "Yesterday was a difficult day. And I'm grateful for the significant support I had from colleagues. But I've also heard loud and clear the concerns of those who didn't feel able to support me and I know the concerns there are in the House of Commons about this issue of the backstop and that they do not want it to be permanent."

The mood seemed positive and many at the summit offered May support.

JEAN-CLAUDE JUNCKER EUROPEAN COMMISSION PRESIDENT "She has to deliver a difficult job. The two of us we were Prime ministers. We have sometimes faced motions asking for our resignation, it will happen to Sebastian in a short period of time."

Sebastian Kurz, Chancellor of Austria: "It's already happened."

Thursday evening May addressed them and then they spoke together without her. But it seemed there would be no stocking filler for the UK. The legal text of the withdrawal agreement and that protocol on Ireland wasn't going to change.

DONALD TUSK EUROPEAN COUNCIL PRESIDENT "The Union stands by this agreement and intends to proceed with its ratification. It is not open for renegotiation. It is the Union's firm determination to work speedily on a subsequent agreement that establishes by 31 December 2020 alternative arrangements, so that the backstop will not need to be triggered."

As the summit restarted Friday, a tense exchange between May and Juncker was caught on camera. Had the EU Commission President really called her nebulous which means hazy or imprecise?

JEAN-CLAUDE JUNCKER EU COMMISSION PRESIDENT "I was not addressing her. And in the morning after having checked what I said yesterday night, she was kissing me."

But as she faced the media at the end of the summit, Theresa May seemed to suggest the EU had offered more than just 'assurances' on the Irish backstop.

Theresa May, UK Prime Minister: "As formal conclusions, these commitments have legal status and therefore should be welcomed."

MARIAM ZAIDI BRUSSELS "Lithuania's President tweeted her Christmas wish to the UK to: 'finally decide what they really want and Santa will deliver.' For the EU, the onus is on the UK. They chose to leave the EU after all. And as the UK Prime Minister says she will continue pushing for clarifications from EU leaders in the coming days. The EU- seemingly less convinced that the Brexit deal will be ratified by the UK parliament - will publish information on how to prepare for a 'no deal' Brexit from December 19th. MZ, CGTN, BRUSSELS."