US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has canceled his participation in the London meeting dedicated to the peaceful settlement of the war in Ukraine because Kiev is not ready for territorial concessions, The Washington Post reports, citing unnamed US officials. The reason for the decision is growing tension between Washington and Kiev related to differences in approach to the negotiation process.
According to the publication's sources, the US administration has expressed dissatisfaction with Ukraine's reluctance to accept territorial concessions proposed by the US, which include official recognition of Russia's annexation of Crimea and freezing the current front line. Kiev, for its part, has insisted that a full and unconditional ceasefire be discussed first, with other issues to be raised later.
In an official position quoted by the Washington Post, a State Department official downplayed the political significance of the cancellation, stating that the decision was related to the logistics of Rubio's busy schedule, rather than a change in the US position. "Mr. Rubio is a busy man. Although the meetings in London continue, he will not participate in them, but this is not a political message, but a technical decision," the US State Department stated.
The talks in London are being held with the participation of delegations from Ukraine, the US, the UK, France and Germany, with the main topic of discussion remaining the possibility of concluding a ceasefire and outlining a framework for future peace talks. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Tuesday that Kiev would not accept any territorial compromises, stressing that the goal of the Ukrainian delegation in London was to achieve a complete ceasefire.