Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s last-minute decision to cancel means there will be no foreign ministers meeting in London for Ukraine peace talks, but presidential envoy Steve Witkoff will still go to Moscow.

London discussions between the US, United Kingdom, Ukraine, France and Germany ended Wednesday without agreement on the terms of a potential peace deal — but with promises to keep talking, as Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy again insisted ceding Crimea to Russia was a non-starter.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is pushing back at the notion of ceding territory to Russia as part of any potential peace agreement.

LONDON – Prospects of a ceasefire in the Ukraine war are receding after US President Donald Trump lashed out at his Ukrainian counterpart, Mr Volodymyr Zelensky, accusing him of rejecting an American ceasefire compromise which would have left about a fifth of Ukraine’s territory under permanent Russian occupation.

Ukraine is insisting on a full ceasefire in order to negotiate with Russia, as U.S. officials — hoping for quick solution — backed out of London talks.