US downgrades involvement in London talks on Ukrainian peace
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio will not participate in the talks in London aimed at ending the war in Ukraine, State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce announced on Tuesday. Sky News reported that the foreign ministers of the United Kingdom, France and Germany will also not be involved.
- On Wednesday in London, representatives from Ukraine, the US, France and Germany are set to discuss a ceasefire in the war in Ukraine.
- US Secretary of State Marco Rubio will not be joining the talks.
- According to Sky News, the level of the talks in London has been downgraded—the foreign ministers from the other countries will also not take part.
After speaking with his British counterpart, Rubio announced that he is postponing his trip to the United Kingdom.
"Our team is looking forward to substantive and good technical meetings with Ukrainian and UK," he posted on the X platform.
He added that the talks concerning peace in Ukraine will proceed, and President Donald Trump's envoy on Ukraine, General Keith Kellogg, will participate.
Reuters, reporting on Rubio's absence at the London meeting, speculates whether this could suggest that Trump has lowered Washington's expectations for these talks.
State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce explained to reporters that Rubio's absence is due to "logistical issues in his schedule."
- General Kellogg is there, and so he will be having those conversations - she explained.
According to Sky News, British Foreign Minister David Lammy will also not participate in the talks. The level of the delegation from France and Germany has also been downgraded.
Ukraine says "no"
What is the reason for this? According to Sky News, it occurred because Kyiv did not agree to recognise Crimea as Russian.
Earlier this week, American media, including Axios and the "Wall Street Journal", reported that the United States expects Ukraine's response to the peace proposal on Wednesday, which includes informal recognition of Russian control over almost all occupied areas.
- As soon as we start talking about Crimea, about our sovereign territories, etc., we enter the format that Russia wants, which is prolonging the war, President Volodymyr Zelensky stated on Tuesday in response to the American proposal.
