Ukraine peace talks chaos as Marco Rubio SNUBS London summit (2025)

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Ukraine peace talks are teetering on the brink of chaos today after Marco Rubio snubbed a London summit with allies.

The US Secretary of State had been scheduled to join discussions with David Lammy and European powers.

However, the meetings have been downgraded to official level after he dramatically pulled out overnight - with Kyivrejecting an apparent American demand to accept Russian sovereignty over Crimea.

The shape of Donald Trump's 'peace' proposal has been slowly emerging. It seems the president wants an immediate ceasefire, with the US recognising Crimea is Russian, and giving de facto recognition of the other territory that has been seized from Ukraine during the latest invasion.

All sanctions on Moscowwould be lifted, Kyiv would be banned from joining Nato, and Volodymyr Zelenskywould have to agree a deal for the US to exploit Ukraine's mineral wealth, according to reports.

Small concessions to Kyiv could see Russia withdraw from an area around the Dnieper river and part of Kherson province. It is unclear what would happen to theZaporizhia nuclear power plant.

The blueprint is likely to fuel alarm among European governments, after they appealed for a tougher line against Vladimir Putin and for America to underpin security guarantees.

Mr Trump, who previously boasted he could secure peace on 'day one', has been signalling he could walk away from the process altogether if an agreement is not struck soon.

The president's envoy for Ukraine and Russia Keith Kellogg will represent Washington in the discussions in London instead of Mr Rubio, although he has looked increasing isolated in the administration.

The US state department blamed a scheduling issue for Mr Rubio's absence, but it suggests the chances of a breakthrough in London are limited.

Meanwhile, Steve Witkoff – a Trump envoy who has been deeply involved in negotiations – is set to return to Moscow this week.

Mr Zelensky has refused to surrender ownership Crimea - invaded by Russia in 2014 - and called for an unconditional ceasefire as the first step to negotiations to end the war.

'This is our territory, the territory of the people of Ukraine,' the president said last night.

He told reporters: 'If we are ready for an unconditional ceasefire – it means silence at sea, in the air, and at the front, on the ground – Ukraine is ready to take the relevant steps.'

Ahead of Wednesday's talks, Mr Lammy tried to put a brave face on the situation saying he had a 'productive call' with Mr Rubio.

He said: 'The UK is working with the US, Ukraine and Europe to put an end to Putin's illegal invasion.'

Mr Rubio said the US delegation – now without him – was 'looking forward to substantive and good technical meetings with Ukrainian and UK counterparts' and indicated he would be 'rescheduling my trip to the UK in the coming months'.

David LammyUkraineCrimeaLondonMarco Rubio

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