Attempts to restart peace talks on the Russia-Ukraine war were hit by fresh turbulence on Wednesday after US Secretary of State Marco Rubio cancelled at short notice his scheduled visit to London. The absence prompted cancellation of a wider meeting with Ukraine, Britain, France, and Germany foreign ministers, exposing Washington’s deep differences with its allies on how to seek peace.
The talks, which officials have termed as “substantive,” were meant to identify areas of agreement after an offer made by Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, in Paris last week. According to diplomats, the American offer relied excessively on Ukraine to make territorial compromises, such as accepting Russia’s annexation of Crimea, easing sanctions on Moscow, and abandoning Kyiv’s NATO aspirations terms that have been strongly rejected by Ukraine and European countries.
With tensions in diplomacy, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s spokesperson nonetheless maintained that there were substantive technical sessions and reiterated the UK’s continued devotion to seeing a “just and lasting peace.”
The stakes are high after US President Donald Trump recently threatened that the US could leave the peace process if there is no concrete progress. The ultimatum was echoed by Vice President JD Vance, who said both sides have to “say yes or watch us walk away” and that territorial concessions would have to be made.
But Ukraine holds firm. In its latest position paper to European partners, Ukraine excluded territorial talks except on the condition of a comprehensive ceasefire. Ukraine’s Deputy Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko reinforced Kyiv’s position, proclaiming that Ukraine “is willing to negotiate but not to yield.” She pointed out that full ceasefire in all spheres must precede any productive conversation.
The growing gulf casts new doubts on the possibility of negotiating an end to the war amid mounting pressure from all directions.
