London Talks On Ending Russia-Ukraine War Pared Down Following Rubio's Cancellation | rssama.com

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — A planned gathering Wednesday betwixt apical U.S., British, French and Ukrainian diplomats to push for a bid deal betwixt Russia and Ukraine was scrapped astatine nan past infinitesimal amid small motion of advancement successful world efforts to extremity nan more than three-year war.

U.K. Foreign Secretary David Lammy announced nan talks successful London would impact only lower-ranking officials aft nan U.S. State Department said Tuesday that Secretary of State Marco Rubio was incapable to be because of a scheduling issue.

Rubio’s abrupt cancelation raised doubts astir nan guidance of nan negotiations. It came arsenic Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensyy ruled retired ceding territory to Russia arsenic portion of immoderate imaginable bid agreement, calling it a nonstarter. The Ukrainian leader said Tuesday successful consequence to reports nan Trump management was proposing a woody that would let Russia to support occupied Ukrainian territory arsenic portion of a imaginable bid agreement.

Even achieving a limited, 30-day ceasefire has been beyond nan scope of negotiators, arsenic some sides person continued to onslaught each different successful a grinding warfare of attrition on nan 1,000-kilometer (620-mile) beforehand statement and motorboat long-range strikes.

A Russian drone struck a autobus carrying workers successful Marganets, successful eastbound Ukraine’s Dnipropetrovsk region connected Wednesday morning, sidesplitting 7 women and 2 men, location caput Serhii Lysak wrote connected his Telegram channel. More than 40 group were injured, he said.

Lysak published photos of a autobus pinch its windows blown retired and shards of solid mixed pinch humor spattered connected nan autobus floor.

Ukrainian delegation arrives successful London contempt alteration successful U.S. plans

Rubio had indicated that Wednesday’s gathering could beryllium decisive successful determining whether nan Trump management remains engaged.

Those still attending nan gathering included retired Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg, Trump’s envoy for Ukraine and Russia.

Andrii Yermak, nan caput of Ukraine’s statesmanlike office, said connected X that a delegation including him, Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha and Defense Minister Rustem Umerov had arrived successful London for nan talks contempt nan alterations.

“The way to bid is not easy, but Ukraine has been and remains committed to serene efforts,” Yermak said. Officials would “discuss ways to execute a afloat and unconditional ceasefire arsenic nan first measurement toward a broad colony and nan accomplishment of a conscionable and lasting peace.”

U.S. typical envoy Steve Witkoff was expected to sojourn Moscow again later this week, according to Russian officials.

Zelenskyy rejects ceding territory to Moscow

The abrupt alteration of plans successful London came amid increasing speculation that nan U.S. will property Ukraine to cede territory to Russia arsenic portion of a imaginable bid statement — a anticipation that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky connected Tuesday again ruled out.

During similar talks past week successful Paris, U.S. officials presented a connection that included allowing Russia to support power of occupied Ukrainian territory arsenic portion of a deal, according to a European charismatic acquainted pinch nan matter.

Zelenskyy pushed backmost against that during an quality successful Kyiv, saying: “There is thing to talk astir — it is our land, nan onshore of nan Ukrainian people.”

Russia, meanwhile, has efficaciously rejected a U.S. connection for an contiguous and afloat 30-day halt successful nan fighting by imposing far-reaching conditions.

Trump said repeatedly during his predetermination run past twelvemonth that he would beryllium capable to extremity nan warfare “in 24 hours” upon taking office. But he has expressed frustration pinch Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Some European friends are wary of nan American connection for Ukraine to speech onshore for peace. But an charismatic said there’s besides acknowledgment by immoderate friends that Russia is firmly entrenched wholly aliases partially successful 5 regions of Ukraine — Crimea, Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson.

If nan extremity is to get a ceasefire immediately, “it should beryllium based connected nan statement of interaction arsenic it is,” said a elder French official. The charismatic was not authorized to beryllium publically named and said connected nan information of anonymity according to French statesmanlike policy.

Moscow holds advantage connected nan battlefield

Still, Ukraine’s territorial integrity and aspirations to fortify ties pinch nan remainder of nan continent are a apical privilege for nan Europeans, nan European charismatic said.

Britain had downplayed expectations of a breakthrough successful London, but says this is an important week for negotiated efforts to extremity nan fighting.

Western analysts opportunity Moscow is successful nary unreserved to reason bid talks, because it has battlefield momentum and wants to seizure much Ukrainian land.

Zelenskyy said Tuesday that Ukraine’s delegation heading to nan U.K. had a instruction to talk only an unconditional aliases partial ceasefire pinch Russia. He said that “after a ceasefire, we’re prepared to beryllium down for talks successful immoderate format.”

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov cautioned that reaching a colony could beryllium a drawn-out process.

Putin declared a 30-hour unilateral ceasefire connected Saturday, but Ukraine and British officials said Russian attacks continued during nan alleged pause. The Associated Press was incapable to verify whether a ceasefire was successful spot on nan astir 1,000-kilometer (620-mile) beforehand line.

Meanwhile, some Russia and Ukraine are preparing for nan spring-summer subject campaign, Ukrainian and Western officials say.

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Novikov reported from Kyiv and Madhani from Washington. Angela Charlton successful Paris contributed.

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