High-level talks aimed at securing a ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia have been scaled back, with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and special envoy Steve Witkoff no longer attending. Instead, senior officials from the UK, France, Germany, Ukraine, and the US will meet on Wednesday. UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy will also hold bilateral discussions with Ukraine’s foreign minister.
Trump administration envoy Gen. Keith Kellogg will represent the US in place of Witkoff and Rubio, who referred to the discussions as “technical meetings.” Rubio will instead focus on upcoming talks in Moscow as diplomatic efforts to end the war intensify.
Speculation is growing that Russia may be willing to freeze the conflict along current frontlines in exchange for major concessions. However, the direction and potential success of these talks remain unclear.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has firmly rejected recognizing Crimea as Russian territory, following reports that the US and Kremlin were considering such a move. Meanwhile, Russia has resumed attacks on Ukraine after a brief pause during Easter, killing at least nine people in a drone strike on a bus in Marhanets and damaging critical infrastructure in Kherson.
The UK Foreign Office confirmed that ministerial-level talks were postponed, with only closed-door official discussions proceeding. British diplomats expressed uncertainty over the US withdrawal, which was attributed to “logistical reasons” but appeared to be a last-minute decision.
Rubio reportedly spoke with Lammy on Tuesday, describing the upcoming talks as “substantive and good technical meetings” and promising to reschedule his UK visit. Lammy called the conversation “productive,” emphasizing the urgency of diplomatic efforts.
Analysts suggest the US may have pulled out due to a lack of new proposals or anticipation of Ukrainian resistance to the latest ceasefire plan. Meanwhile, Witkoff is set to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow this week his fourth such discussion.
A Financial Times report claimed Russia might halt its invasion at current frontlines and drop claims to unoccupied territories if the US recognizes Crimea as Russian. The Kremlin dismissed the report as “fake,” while Zelensky reiterated that Ukraine would never accept Crimea’s annexation.
Yuriy Sak, an adviser to Ukraine’s Ministry of Strategic Industries, called such speculation “not productive” and stressed that Ukraine’s stance on Crimea is non-negotiable. He confirmed Ukrainian negotiators would attend the London talks with a strict mandate to push for a ceasefire as a step toward further discussions.
Despite Putin’s declared Easter truce, UK Defence Secretary John Healey stated there was no evidence of reduced attacks, accusing Russia of playing for time in negotiations. He noted that while Russian advances have slowed, pressure on Ukrainian forces continues.
Since Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022, hundreds of thousands have been killed or wounded, with nearly seven million Ukrainians displaced globally. The conflict traces back to 2014, when Moscow annexed Crimea and backed separatists in eastern Ukraine following Kyiv’s pro-Western revolution.
For more political updates, visit London Pulse News.
