This is what we all suspected. That the EU wants to keep Northern Ireland in a customs union forever. That's to say, it becomes part of the EU empire.
Same tactics they used with Theresa May, but with one difference. Boris looks like he will win an election over Brexit, handily, if he keeps demanding either a constructive deal, or no deal. Just as the Brexit Party won the European elections.
So simple answer. No. The UK is a sovereign country.
Bad news for [Southern] Ireland, which is playing hardball, in a way that it risks being badly damaged, which we don't want but cannot avoid without constructive negotiation.
If they try to keep the UK in the EU, then we become a cancer within. Not a great idea from their viewpoint.
Constructive negotiation remains the best path.
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