London/Paris, April 23 – Consultations with US, Ukraine and European officials discussed the end of the Russian war in Ukraine. It shook Wednesday as U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio suddenly canceled his trip to London and negotiations were downgraded.
Rubio’s no-show led to the cancellation of broader meetings of foreign ministers from Ukraine, the UK, France and Germany, but discussions continued at a lower level. The United States is now represented by Ukrainian envoy General Keith Kellogg.
The downgrade of consultations comes at a critical time just days after President Donald Trump warned that Washington could leave if he didn’t make an immediate move into the deal. Trump raised the pressure on Sunday when he said that Moscow and Kiev wanted to make a deal this week to end the Three Years’ War.
European officials said Rubio had shown his British host that he was concerned that Ukraine could return to its toughest position.
Rubio spoke with British Foreign Secretary David Lamy late Tuesday and said he is looking forward to rescheduling the trip in the coming months of Wednesday’s “technical conference.”
Ukrainian presidential adviser Andri Yahmack said his arrival in London with the Minister of Foreign and Defense would focus on how to achieve a complete and unconditional ceasefire as a first step to peace.
“Despite everything, we work for peace,” he said on social media.
The meeting was a follow-up to a similar session in Paris last week, where we, Ukrainians and European officials discussed how to move forward and move forward in a narrow position.
In these talks, Trump’s special envoy group Steve Witkov submitted his paper to participants who outlined proposals that should be made not only by Ukraine but also by Russia, according to three diplomats, according to the meeting.
The diplomats formulated a joint position before taking them to Russia whether the position paper is a solid stance from the US or a starting point for cooperation with Ukraine and its British, French and German allies.
Difficult proposal
Some of Washington’s proposals were unacceptable for European countries and Kiev, and according to multiple sources, they still leave the trouble with the possibility of reaching a compromise.
French Foreign Minister Jeannoel Barott said on Tuesday that he detailed the US what Europeans consider to be a potential aspect of the Ukraine-Russia peace agreement.
Rubio said last week he and Witkov had received a reception that encouraged the US framework proposed in Paris.
However, sources said in the US proposal that it is aware of Russia’s illegal annexation of Crimea.
Ukrainians and Europeans must also accept the reality of Russian control of the remaining 20% of Ukrainian territory.
Additionally, Ukraine’s NATO membership will be excluded and the US will begin to remove sanctions against Russia.
The London consultations were aimed at finding areas where they could bridge the differences, satisfy Moscow and hold serious negotiations, the diplomat said.
Other major fixtures remain, including Russia pushing for lifting European Union sanctions before negotiations are over.
According to European diplomats, Washington last week proposed establishing a neutral zone at the Zaporidia nuclear power plant in Russian-occupied Ukraine. Ukrainian President Voldymi Zelensky said on Tuesday that he is ready to partner with the US to reopen the factory.
Some of the Washington ideas can make Moscow uncomfortable. The two diplomats said the US has not pushed Russia’s demands for the US to condemn Ukraine and they have not opposed the European troops as part of Ukraine’s future security guarantees.
Witkoff was not part of the London lecture. But in the parallel trajectory of Washington’s diplomacy with Moscow, he will meet Russian President Vladimir Putin this week in Russia, the White House said.
Since taking office in January, Trump has overturned US foreign policy, pressing Ukraine to agree to a ceasefire and eased many measures the Biden administration took to punish Russia for a full-scale invasion in 2022.
The US president has repeatedly said he wants to mediate a ceasefire in Ukraine by May, claiming that the US must end a conflict that killed tens of thousands and risk a direct conflict between the US and nuclear forces Russia.
