Lower-level talks on Ukraine underway in London - Sky News
Photo: Ukraine talks at the level of advisors have started in London (Getty Images)
On Wednesday, April 23, talks on Ukraine at the level of national security advisors began in London. It was previously planned to be a ministerial meeting, Sky News reports.
Negotiations between Ukraine, the UK, the US, France, and Germany on a peace plan to end the war continue in London.
According to Sky News, talks have started at a lower level. National security advisors from the United Kingdom, France, and Germany, as well as officials from Ukraine and the United States, are holding discussions.
Earlier, it was expected that the five countries' foreign ministers would hold talks in London. But US Secretary of State Marco Rubio did not attend the meeting.
The foreign ministers and defense ministers of Ukraine and the United Kingdom hold bilateral discussions separately.
UK Defense Secretary John Healey is also due to meet with US Presidential Special Representative for Ukraine Keith Kellogg, who represents Washington in the discussions instead of Rubio.
Talks in London on April 23
Ukraine, the US, UK, France, and Germany were to hold talks in London today. Ukraine expected that the talks would focus on the ceasefire.
According to Western media, the US planned to present its seven-point peace plan. It contradicts Ukraine's position, in particular, it provides for the abandonment of territories and NATO. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized that Ukraine would not recognize Crimea and other occupied territories as Russian.
On the eve of the meeting, the United States announced that Secretary of State Marco Rubio would not go to London. According to media reports, the reason for this was Zelenskyy's refusal to accept the key US proposal to recognize Crimea as part of Russia.
Due to Rubio's absence, a meeting at the level of foreign ministers was canceled in London. However, the Ukrainian delegation still arrived in London and is holding talks.
Read more about why the talks on Ukraine in London failed in RBC-Ukraine's report.
