LONDON: Hopes for a short-term ceasefire in Ukraine were dashed on Wednesday after US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and special envoy Steve Witkoff abruptly withdrew from high-level peace talks in LONDON, causing the collapse of a closely watched diplomatic summit.
The ministerial-level discussions—part of a renewed Trump administration effort to mediate an end to the war—were expected to involve senior officials from Ukraine, the United States, and European allies. However, the meeting was called off just hours before its scheduled start.
Ukrainian presidential chief of staff Andriy Yermak, who arrived in LONDON alongside the country’s defense and foreign ministers, remained hopeful despite the setback.
“Despite everything, we continue working for peace,” Yermak posted on X.
The derailment of the summit follows intensified US efforts to pressure both Kyiv and Moscow into negotiations as the conflict enters its third year. President Donald Trump, now nearing the 100-day mark of his second term, had pledged to broker an immediate end to the war upon his return to office.
Rubio, who was in PARIS earlier in the week, reversed his plans to attend the LONDON talks due to what the US State Department cited as “logistical issues.” The absence of both Rubio and Witkoff was later confirmed by European diplomatic sources.
Following the US withdrawal, French and German officials also pulled out, prompting the UK Foreign Ministry to formally postpone the summit.
Last week’s US peace proposals—reportedly including recognition of Russia’s annexation of Crimea and a phased lifting of European sanctions—were rejected by both Kyiv and Moscow, further complicating diplomatic efforts.
Russian President Vladimir Putin, however, signaled for the first time on Tuesday that he may consider bilateral ceasefire talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Reports indicated that Putin had suggested halting military activity along the current frontlines.
Zelenskyy, while not directly addressing the latest developments, dismissed any scenario involving the surrender of Crimea.
“There’s nothing to talk about here,” he said in a press conference on Tuesday. “This is against our Constitution.”
Despite the breakdown in LONDON, the Kremlin indicated that dialogue would continue. “We continue our contacts,” said Putin’s spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, noting ongoing coordination with Witkoff in MOSCOW. “Many details remain, and positions must be brought closer.”
The UK and French governments had hoped the summit would also advance discussions on post-war reconstruction and defense collaboration. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot and UK Foreign Minister David Lammy had earlier exchanged views on alignment strategies, but Barrot ultimately canceled his trip due to scheduling conflicts.
Following the meeting’s collapse, Lammy posted on X that he had a “productive” call with Rubio, reaffirming the UK’s commitment to peace in Ukraine in coordination with the US and European allies. Rubio, in turn, noted that he plans to “reschedule my trip to the UK in the coming months.”
