German Chancellor Angela Merkel has urged the United Kingdom to be ready for the upcoming "Brexit" talks with the European Union. 

Merkel said the negotiations on the UK's withdrawal from the EU would begin "in the coming days." She added that while the EU would defend the interests of the remaining 27 member states, it would also like to remain a good partner of the UK.

In response, the UK will begin the arduous process of negotiating its departure from the EU in a nine-days' time. 

Prime Minister Theresa May suffered a setback to her plans to drive for a hard Brexit this week when she failed to win a parliamentary majority in the country's snap general election.