Talks between the US, Ukraine, and European officials in London were downgraded when US Secretary of State Marco Rubio cancelled his participation and retired General Keith Kellogg was sent in his place. The US reportedly presented a peace proposal during a meeting in Paris which includes recognising Russian control over occupied Ukrainian territories, preventing Ukraine from joining NATO, lifting sanctions on Russia, and enhancing energy and economic cooperation between the US and Russia. In return, the US promises a “robust security guarantee” for Ukraine. However, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has ruled out recognition of Russia’s annexation of Crimea and insists on a complete ceasefire before any peace talks.
Zelenskyy stated that under no circumstances will Ukraine legally recognise Russia’s occupation of Crimea as it violates the constitution and is Ukrainian territory. The Ukrainian delegation heading to London is mandated to discuss terms for a full or partial ceasefire with Russia but will not engage in any talks without a halt to hostilities. Despite the challenges, Ukraine remains committed to working towards peace and will focus on achieving a full and unconditional ceasefire as a first step towards peace. The country is unwilling to accept a peace agreement that would give the Kremlin a chance to regroup for further attacks.
Prior to the London talks, Russian President Vladimir Putin reportedly offered the US to stop the invasion of Ukraine along the current front line, giving up claims to unoccupied parts of certain Ukrainian regions. However, Moscow denied these claims and described them as “media fabrications.” The Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov emphasized that any regulatory options cannot be made public as they lose their effectiveness once they become public. The reported peace proposal from the US is said to have limited concessions from Russia, with Ukraine regaining control of only a part of the Kharkiv region.
The US expected Ukraine to respond to its peace plan in London, but President Zelenskyy has made it clear that Ukraine will not recognise Russia’s annexation of Crimea and that there can be no peace talks until a complete ceasefire is established. The talks in London will focus on ways to achieve a full and unconditional ceasefire as a necessary first step towards peace. Ukraine views a complete ceasefire as crucial to prevent the Kremlin from regrouping for further attacks. Despite the challenges and differences in positions, Ukraine stands firm in its commitment to negotiation while maintaining a stance of not surrendering.
The reconfiguration of the London talks following the change in US representation raises questions about the negotiation process and the positions of the parties involved. With tensions high and differing views on key issues such as Crimea and ceasefire conditions, the path to peace remains uncertain. As the talks unfold in London, the international community watches closely to see if any progress can be made towards ending Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and achieving a lasting ceasefire. It remains to be seen how the various parties will navigate the obstacles and disagreements to reach a potential agreement that satisfies all sides and brings much-needed peace to the region.
