London meeting on Ukraine to be held without foreign ministers - Sky News
Photo: Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha (Vitalii Nosach, RBC-Ukraine)
The meeting between the foreign ministers of Ukraine, the United Kingdom, the United States, France, and Germany, which was scheduled for April 23, has been postponed. The talks on Ukraine will be held between senior officials of the five countries, Sky News reports.
"The top diplomats from the UK, US, France, Germany and Ukraine have postponed a plan to meet in London on Wednesday for high-level talks on how to end Russia's war," the report said.
According to the agency, a meeting of high-ranking officials from the five countries will take place instead. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha is in London to hold a bilateral meeting with British Foreign Secretary David Lammy.
According to Sky News, the level of talks in London has been downgraded before the meeting, as Ukraine rejects the US plan to recognize Crimea as Russian. Ukraine in London wanted to discuss the ceasefire.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio did not arrive in London, where he was to meet with the foreign ministers of Ukraine, the United Kingdom, France, and Germany. CNN wrote that Rubio canceled the trip because Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy refused to recognize Crimea as Russian.
Sky News notes that after Rubio canceled the visit, France and Germany also probably changed their minds about sending ministers to London. The outlet adds that US special envoy on Ukraine Keith Kellogg will instead take part in discussions in London with senior French and German officials.
Negotiations on Ukraine in London
Today, April 23, a meeting between Ukraine, the United Kingdom, France, and the United States was to take place in London to discuss the settlement of the war. According to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, these talks were supposed to be aimed at a ceasefire.
Ukraine's delegation included the head of the Presidential Office, Andrii Yermak, Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiga, and Deputy Head of the Presidential Office, Pavlo Palisa.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio was also expected to attend, but yesterday the White House announced that he would not.
Media reports say that the US wanted to present its seven-point peace plan at the meeting in London. It includes a ceasefire, recognition of Crimea as Russian, freezing the front line, and more.
Zelenskyy emphasized that Ukraine would not give up the occupied territories and would not recognize them as part of Russia. According to media reports, Rubio refused to go to London because of this position.
Find out about the negotiations and whether the US is close to a peace agreement in Ukraine in RBC-Ukraine's report.
