Peace talks postponed, tensions between Kiev and Washington over US-Russia plan

Foreign ministers’ summit in London slips after Ukrainian refusal to yield on Crimea. US remains at the table with reduced representation, while compromise scenarios with Moscow emerge

The peace talks for Ukraine scheduled for today in London at the level of foreign ministers have been postponed. This was announced by the British Foreign Office, which nevertheless confirmed a technical meeting at a lower level to continue official contacts.

The reason for the postponement was the forfeit of US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, followed by Special Presidential Envoy Steve Witkoff. Underlying the decision was the adamant position of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky: Kiev will never agree to recognise Crimea as Russian territory.

The US peace plan, according to media reports, would include the recognition of the annexation of Crimea by Russia and the freezing of the current front lines. A proposal publicly rejected by Zelensky, who also stated that he had never been formally informed by Washington of this initiative.

Despite the tensions, the Ukrainian foreign minister will still be present in London for a bilateral with his British counterpart David Lammy. The United States will be represented by its envoy for Ukraine, Keith Kellogg.

At the same time, the Guardian reports rumours that Moscow is willing to give up its claims on unoccupied Ukrainian territories in exchange for the recognition of Crimea and diplomatic concessions from Washington. Kiev, for its part, is reportedly open to the possibility of a ceasefire along the current lines, provided it does not imply any legal recognition of the Russian occupation.

The climate also remains tense on the ground. Over the Easter weekend, thousands of violations of the ceasefire declared by Vladimir Putin, according to the Ukrainian authorities. And yesterday a Russian kamikaze drone hit a bus in Marhanets, Dnipropetrovsk region, killing nine people and injuring at least thirty. On board were employees of a local company.

Meanwhile, China rejects Kiev’s accusations of alleged military support for Moscow. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun called the accusations ‘baseless’ and condemned what he called ‘political manipulation’ after Beijing was formally summoned by Ukraine.

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(Photo: © AndKronos)