London — High-stakes talks aimed at brokering a ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia have been downgraded, with key American figures, including US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and special envoy Steve Witkoff, no longer attending.
The meeting, set for Wednesday, will now involve senior officials from the UK, France, Germany, Ukraine, and the US. UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy will also host a separate bilateral meeting with his Ukrainian counterpart. General Keith Kellogg, former President Trump’s envoy on Ukraine, will represent the US in place of Rubio and Witkoff.
The diplomatic reshuffle comes amid firm resistance from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who ruled out any recognition of Russia’s occupation of Crimea. This stance follows reports suggesting Crimea’s status might have been a discussion point during the London talks. Zelensky, speaking at a press briefing, insisted, “Ukraine does not legally recognise the occupation of Crimea. There’s nothing to talk about.”
Meanwhile, speculation is mounting that Moscow could be willing to halt its invasion along the current frontlines if major concessions are offered, such as international recognition of its control over Crimea. However, Ukrainian officials have stressed that issues like Crimea remain “non-negotiable.”
Despite the downgraded talks, diplomatic activity continues to accelerate. On Tuesday night, Secretary Rubio described his preparatory conversation with Lammy as “substantive and good technical meetings,” while Lammy called it “productive” ahead of what he described as a “critical moment” for Euro-Atlantic security.
Nevertheless, the UK Foreign Office announced Wednesday that formal talks between foreign ministers had been postponed. Lower-level “official” talks will proceed, though they remain closed to the media. Separately, the White House confirmed that Witkoff would travel to Moscow for his fourth meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Adding to the complexity, a report in the Financial Times suggested that Russia might offer to freeze its invasion at current frontlines if Crimea is internationally recognised as Russian territory. Ukrainian officials dismissed the suggestion, and adviser Yuriy Sak emphasized that negotiators would pursue only a narrow mandate focused on achieving a ceasefire to open the door for broader peace talks.
On the battlefield, violence persists. Despite President Putin’s announcement of an Easter truce, UK Defence Secretary John Healey reported no reduction in attacks, accusing Russia of “playing for time” while continuing to pressure Ukrainian forces on several fronts.
Tragically, nine civilians were killed Wednesday morning when a Russian drone strike targeted a worker bus in the city of Marhanets, adding to the grim toll of the ongoing conflict.
Since the Russian invasion began on February 24, 2022, hundreds of thousands have been killed or wounded, and nearly seven million Ukrainians are registered as refugees around the world. The roots of the conflict trace back to 2014, following the overthrow of Ukraine’s pro-Russian president and Russia’s subsequent annexation of Crimea.
As diplomatic efforts ramp up, the path toward peace remains uncertain, overshadowed by battlefield realities and deep political divisions over Ukraine’s territorial integrity.