LONDON — Diplomatic efforts to end the war in Ukraine faced fresh uncertainty Wednesday as officials from the United States, United Kingdom, France, Germany, and Ukraine met in London to discuss a potential ceasefire with Russia. The meeting, originally expected to signal progress, was downgraded in significance after top European ministers withdrew and the U.S. signaled waning patience.
Retired Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg, President Trump’s envoy for Ukraine, represented the United States. However, Secretary of State Marco Rubio did not attend, following his recent warning that the U.S. could exit the peace process if no progress was made within days.
Though Britain’s Foreign Secretary David Lammy held preliminary talks with Rubio, expectations for a breakthrough remain low. Meanwhile, Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff is set to return to Moscow for his fourth meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, suggesting a parallel diplomatic channel focused on direct U.S.-Russia dialogue.
Notably, earlier hardline U.S. positions — such as ramping up military aid or intensifying sanctions on Russia — appear to have been sidelined. Instead, recent proposals from within the U.S. administration have hinted at Ukraine potentially conceding territory annexed by Russia in 2014 and 2022. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy firmly rejected these suggestions, stating that no official proposals have been presented to his government.
European leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, continue to advocate for a peace process that ensures Ukraine’s territorial integrity and future security. They have also emphasized the need for sustained military and financial support.
Trump, however, has reiterated his openness to halting all aid to Ukraine and warned he may walk away from the peace process if both sides remain entrenched. The divergence in strategy between the U.S. and its European allies now casts doubt over the unity and effectiveness of Western efforts to bring about a durable peace in Eastern Europe.