US Vice President JD Vance warned that America would “walk away” from Ukraine peace negotiations without an agreement, echoing recent US official statements.
This announcement came as London talks between the UK, France, Germany, Ukraine and US were downgraded after US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and special envoy Steve Witkoff withdrew. The US is prioritizing Moscow talks where Witkoff will meet Russian President Vladimir Putin for the fourth time as diplomatic efforts intensify.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky maintained his position demanding “an immediate, full, and unconditional ceasefire,” stating that “stopping the killing is task number one.”
Vance told reporters in India that the US had presented a “very explicit proposal” to both parties, adding: “It’s time for them to either say yes or for the US to walk away from this process. We’ve engaged in extraordinary diplomacy, of on-the-ground work.”
Trump’s Ukraine envoy, Gen Keith Kellogg, is attending the London talks in place of Witkoff and Rubio, who described Wednesday’s meetings as “technical.” UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy is hosting a separate bilateral meeting with his Ukrainian counterpart.
Reports suggest Russia might accept halting its invasion along current front lines for significant concessions, though outcomes remain unclear. Vance stated: “It’s now time to take one of the final steps, which is, at a broad level, the party saying we’re going to stop the killing, we’re going to freeze the territorial lines at some level close to where they are today.”
“Now, of course, that means the Ukrainians and the Russians are both going to have to give up some of the territory they currently own,” he added.
Zelensky has rejected recognizing Russian sovereignty over occupied Crimea after reports suggested this was under consideration by US officials and the Kremlin.
Violence continues as Russia intensified attacks following an Easter pause. Nine people died when a Russian drone struck a bus in eastern Ukraine, while officials reported destruction of key electricity infrastructure in the Kherson region.
The UK Foreign Office confirmed ministerial talks were postponed, with British diplomats expressing uncertainty about why the American officials withdrew. The US State Department cited logistical reasons for the last-minute decision.
Rubio spoke with Lammy, promising to reschedule his UK visit, while Lammy called their conversation “productive” ahead of a “critical moment for Ukraine.”
The White House confirmed Witkoff’s upcoming Moscow trip amid a Financial Times report suggesting Russia might halt its invasion along existing lines and abandon claims to territories it doesn’t currently control in exchange for US recognition of Russian sovereignty over Crimea.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov dismissed the report as fake, while Zelensky firmly rejected any recognition of Russian claims to Crimea: “Ukraine does not legally recognise the occupation of Crimea. There’s nothing to talk about.”
Yuriy Sak, an adviser to Ukraine’s ministry of strategic industries, told BBC Radio 4 it was “not productive to discuss” such reports and “naรฏve” to expect Ukraine to change its position on “non-negotiable” issues including Crimea.
UK Defence Secretary John Healey contradicted Putin’s claim of an Easter truce, stating British intelligence found no evidence of reduced attacks. The conflict has reportedly caused hundreds of thousands of casualties and displaced nearly seven million Ukrainians since Russia’s February 2022 invasion, with roots extending to Russia’s 2014 annexation of Crimea.
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