The EU really, really, really doesn't want to be blamed for the disaster that will follow in the UK following a no-deal brexshit.

So basically the UK will get 2 extra weeks to stock goods if they don't agree to the Dec2020 extension (and then they're off with no-deal) or almost 2 months if they agree to the deal (basically the last possible date due to the EU elections)

In any way, the EU has shown the UK now very clearly what options the UK got left (plus, of course, stay in the EU..)