Additional Coverage:
- High-profile Ukraine peace talks collapse after Marco Rubio and Steve Witkoff pull out (nbcnews.com)
Peace Talks Falter as US Officials Skip London Meeting
High-level peace talks regarding the ongoing conflict in Ukraine hit a snag Wednesday as key US officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio and special envoy Steve Witkoff, unexpectedly pulled out of a planned meeting in London. This setback casts doubt on hopes for a swift resolution to the three-year conflict, particularly as it comes just shy of President Trump’s 100-day benchmark for ending the war, a promise he made upon resuming office.
Despite the US officials’ absence, Ukrainian presidential chief of staff Andriy Yermak, along with the Ukrainian defense and foreign ministers, proceeded to London. While acknowledging the difficulties, Yermak affirmed Ukraine’s commitment to peace in a social media post. Meanwhile, Vice President JD Vance, speaking from India, expressed optimism but underscored the potential for the US to abandon negotiations if sufficient progress isn’t achieved.
The sudden shift in US participation follows a week of intensified efforts by the Trump administration to broker a truce between Kyiv and Moscow. Last week, Rubio hinted at the possibility of the US withdrawing from ceasefire negotiations if no breakthroughs were made. The withdrawal of Rubio and Witkoff from the London meeting underscores this stance, signaling a potential shift in US strategy away from multilateral negotiations.
Experts suggest that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s firm rejection of any deal conceding Russian control over Crimea played a significant role in the US officials’ decision. Dr. Bence Németh, a senior lecturer at King’s College London, interpreted the move as a sign of waning US interest in protracted negotiations and a move towards a less neutral mediating role.
Adding to the confusion, State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce offered conflicting statements regarding Rubio’s attendance, initially confirming his presence before citing “logistical issues” as the reason for his absence. European diplomatic sources confirmed that neither Rubio nor Witkoff were in London on Wednesday, with France and Germany also pulling their top officials from the meeting. The British Foreign Ministry subsequently announced the postponement of the talks.
Despite the diplomatic setback, lower-level discussions continued. Ukrainian officials met with President Trump’s special envoy to Ukraine, Keith Kellogg, and held separate meetings with their British counterparts. Ukrainian officials reiterated their willingness to negotiate but emphasized their refusal to accept a “frozen conflict” or relinquish territory.
The stalled progress comes after the US presented peace proposals in Paris last week, which included a land-for-peace deal acknowledging Russia’s annexation of Crimea and the lifting of EU sanctions against Russia. Both sides rejected the proposal.
Amidst the diplomatic wrangling, Russian President Vladimir Putin signaled his openness to direct ceasefire talks with Zelenskyy, even suggesting a potential halt to fighting along current front lines. Zelenskyy, however, remains steadfast in his refusal to cede Crimea, a position that President Trump criticized as hindering peace efforts.
While the future of the peace process remains uncertain, the collapse of the London talks marks a significant hurdle in the ongoing effort to end the war in Ukraine. Despite the current impasse, Russia maintains its engagement with the US, with a meeting between Putin and Witkoff reportedly scheduled in Moscow this week.