By Ministry of Defense of Ukraine
On Wednesday, diplomats and defense leaders from the United Kingdom, the United States, various European countries, and Ukraine will convene in London to advocate for a peace agreement between Moscow and Kyiv. British Defence Secretary John Healey stated that this gathering of foreign ministers and national security advisors follows discussions held last week in Paris and will address the potential framework for a ceasefire as well as strategies for achieving long-term peace. Among the attendees is retired Lt Gen Keith Kellogg, who served as President Donald Trump’s envoy for Ukraine and Russia.
The US State Department announced that Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who participated in the Paris discussions, is unable to attend due to a scheduling conflict. While Britain has tempered expectations regarding a significant breakthrough, it emphasizes that this week is crucial for diplomatic initiatives aimed at ending over three years of conflict since Russia’s extensive invasion of Ukraine.
Last week, Trump remarked that negotiations are reaching a critical juncture and that the US may withdraw if either party fails to advance towards peace. Rubio has also suggested that the US might soon distance itself from negotiations if they do not yield progress, indicating that the meeting on Wednesday could be pivotal in deciding whether the Trump administration will maintain its engagement.
Yuri Ushakov, an advisor on foreign affairs to Putin, mentioned that US special envoy Steve Witkoff is anticipated to visit Moscow again this week, although Ushakov did not provide additional information.
On Wednesday, diplomats and defense leaders from the United Kingdom, the United States, various European countries, and Ukraine will convene in London to advocate for a peace agreement between Moscow and Kyiv. British Defence Secretary John Healey stated that this gathering of foreign ministers and national security advisors follows discussions held last week in Paris and will address the potential framework for a ceasefire as well as strategies for achieving long-term peace. Among the attendees is retired Lt Gen Keith Kellogg, who served as President Donald Trump’s envoy for Ukraine and Russia.
The US State Department announced that Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who participated in the Paris discussions, is unable to attend due to a scheduling conflict. While Britain has tempered expectations regarding a significant breakthrough, it emphasizes that this week is crucial for diplomatic initiatives aimed at ending over three years of conflict since Russia’s extensive invasion of Ukraine.
Last week, Trump remarked that negotiations are reaching a critical juncture and that the US may withdraw if either party fails to advance towards peace. Rubio has also suggested that the US might soon distance itself from negotiations if they do not yield progress, indicating that the meeting on Wednesday could be pivotal in deciding whether the Trump administration will maintain its engagement. Yuri Ushakov, an advisor on foreign affairs to Putin, mentioned that US special envoy Steve Witkoff is anticipated to visit Moscow again this week, although Ushakov did not provide additional information.
According to Western analysts, Moscow is not in a hurry to finalize peace negotiations, as it currently possesses battlefield advantages and aims to seize additional territory in Ukraine. Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s spokesperson, Dave Pares, stated that the responsibility now lies with Russia. He emphasized that it is time for President Vladimir Putin to demonstrate his commitment to peace.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy mentioned on Tuesday that Ukraine’s delegation traveling to the UK is authorized to discuss only an unconditional or partial ceasefire with Russia, indicating that they are willing to engage in talks in any format following a ceasefire. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov warned that the issue of settlement is highly intricate, suggesting that it would be inappropriate to impose strict limitations or a short timeline for achieving a viable resolution.
Delegations from both Russia and Ukraine have engaged in separate discussions with US officials in Saudi Arabia, as Trump seeks to fulfill his campaign promise to end the conflict. Russia has effectively dismissed a US proposal for an immediate and complete 30-day cessation of hostilities by attaching extensive conditions.
Although Putin announced a 30-hour unilateral ceasefire on Saturday, Ukrainian and British officials reported that Russian assaults persisted during this purported pause. The Associated Press was unable to confirm the existence of a ceasefire along the approximately 1,000-kilometer front line. In the meantime, both Russia and Ukraine are reportedly preparing for the upcoming spring-summer military campaign, according to Ukrainian and Western officials.
