Diplomats from the UK, France, Germany, Ukraine, and the US will meet in London on Wednesday to continue discussions aimed at securing a ceasefire in the ongoing three-year conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
These talks come as speculation rises that Russia may be open to halting its military advances along the current front lines in exchange for significant territorial concessions.
While diplomatic efforts to end the war have gained momentum, there remains uncertainty about their direction or likelihood of success.
US President Donald Trump's special envoy, Steve Witkoff, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio had initially planned to attend the London talks but withdrew at the last minute. Instead, Trump’s Ukraine envoy, General Keith Kellogg, will represent the US.
On Tuesday evening, Rubio held a conversation with UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy, expressing hopes for "substantive and technically sound meetings." Lammy called the exchange "productive," emphasizing the importance of the moment for Ukraine, Britain, and Euro-Atlantic security as talks progress rapidly.
The US Secretary of State announced he would reschedule his trip to the UK for a future visit, noting on X that he looks forward to continuing discussions after the ongoing meetings.
The White House also confirmed that Witkoff would visit Moscow later this week for his fourth meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Meanwhile, reports from the Financial Times suggest that Russia may be ready to pause its invasion at the current front lines and abandon some territorial claims in exchange for US recognition of Russian sovereignty over Crimea.
However, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has dismissed these proposals, stating that no such offers had been made to him and firmly rejecting the idea of recognizing Crimea as part of Russia.
Although Putin had announced a temporary ceasefire for the Easter weekend, UK Defence Secretary John Healey stated in the House of Commons on Tuesday that British military intelligence had found no evidence of a reduction in attacks. "While Putin claims to have declared an Easter truce, he violated it," Healey remarked. "Despite his statements about desiring peace, he has rejected a full ceasefire and continues to stall in negotiations."
Healey further noted that Russian military advances were slowing, although the country maintained pressure on Ukraine from multiple fronts.
The war, which began with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, has resulted in the deaths or injuries of hundreds of thousands of people and displaced nearly seven million Ukrainians globally.
The conflict has roots stretching back to 2014, when Ukraine's pro-Russian president was ousted. Subsequently, Russia annexed Crimea and supported separatist fighters in eastern Ukraine, fueling a bloody conflict.
Source: BBC
BDST: 1347 HRS, APR 23, 2025
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