London talks disrupted after Ukraine refused to cede territory to Russia - WP
Photo: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio (Getty Images)
On April 23, an important meeting on Ukraine was to take place in London with the participation of the United States and several EU countries. Journalists found out the reasons why it was canceled, The Washington Post reports.
According to the agency, European diplomats canceled high-level talks scheduled for Wednesday, April 23, on ending Russia's war in Ukraine after leading US diplomats suddenly canceled their plans to attend.
"The disruption comes amid anger in Washington over Ukraine’s reluctance to accept controversial proposals to cede territory to Russia and Kyiv’s preference 'to discuss a complete ceasefire first and everything else later'," an official briefed on the situation, speaks on condition of anonymity.
The lower-level talks were expected to take place on Wednesday, April 23, but the foreign ministers will no longer meet, a diplomat in London familiar with the plan told WP.
"British Foreign Secretary David Lammy, who was set to host his peers, will instead “drop in” on the lower-level sessions," The Washington Post says.
When can meeting on Ukraine take place and in what format?
On Tuesday night, Rubio, who had canceled his trip to London the night before, on April 22, expressed hope that a high-level meeting could take place in the coming months.
"We’re hopeful as per the Rubio tweet that a meeting in London can happen soon, but without Witkoff, the secretary of state, the French and German foreign ministers, there’s no reason for the foreign secretary to chair," said a diplomat familiar with the talks.
He commented that the meeting scheduled for April 23 will not take place at the level of foreign ministers.
Meeting on Ukraine canceled in London
Negotiations on a ceasefire and the settlement of the war in London at the level of foreign ministers were to take place on April 23. But the meeting was unexpectedly postponed.
The level of delegations was lowered amid media reports of a peaceful US plan that would recognize Crimea as Russian and freeze the front, as well as Ukraine's refusal to join NATO.
A meeting between the ministers of Ukraine and the UK has already started in London. The parties are discussing security and a lasting peace. The Ukrainian delegation arrived in London anyway, although US Secretary of State Marco Rubio refused to hold talks on Ukraine in London.
