United States President Donald Trump again went out to Volodymyr Zelenskyy, as his Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, went out to the last minute for planned conversations between North -American, Ukrainian and Europeans in London to end the Russian war in Ukraine.
Rubio’s No-Show promoted a wider meeting of foreign ministers from Ukraine, Britain, France and Germany to be canceled, although talks continued at a lower level, with Ukraine envoy Keith Kellogg, attending.
The meeting was a follow-up session in Paris last week with American, Ukrainian and European officials. During these conversations, Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff presented an article to participants explaining the proposals in which Ukraine in particular, but also Russia, should make concessions, according to three diplomats aware of the conversations.
But sources said that among American proposals he acknowledged the illegal annexation of Crimean of Russia, a movement that was not a beginning for Europe and Ukraine.
Zelenskyy told the Wall Street Journal in a Wednesday report, which caused Trump on social media to choose Ukraine President for « inflammatory statements » that they were « very harmful to peace negotiations. » Trump’s outburst evoked a meeting of the White House in late February in front of the cameras where he and Vice President JD Vance unveiled Zelenskyy for what they characterized as a lack of appreciation for U.S. military help in Ukraine in the war.
« The situation for Ukraine is ominous: it can have peace or can fight for three more years before losing the whole country, » Trump said about social truth Wednesday.
Trump also blamed the former President of the United States again, Barack Obama, to allow Russian rebel raids to Crimea in the mid -1920’s.
Yulia Svyrydenko, Vice -Ukraine, told social media that Kiev would not recognize Russian sovereignty on Crimea.
« Ukraine is ready to negotiate, but not to surrender, » Svyrydenko wrote in X. « A complete cessation of fire, on earth, in the air and in the sea, is the first necessary step. If Russia opts for a limited pause, Ukraine will respond in kind. Our people will not accept a frozen conflict disguised as a peace disguised. »
UK talks went down after Rubio’s retirement
Both Rubio and Trump warned at the end of last week that Washington could move away from conversations about Ukraine and Russia if there was no progress soon in an agreement.
Rubio spoke with British Foreign Secretary David Lammy on Tuesday afternoon, and said he hoped to re -program his trip in the coming months after the « technical meetings » on Wednesday.
A spokesman for the British Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, decreased any disappointment in Rubio’s abrupt cancellation, saying that conversations involved « substantial technical meetings with European, American and Ukrainian officials on how to stop the fighting » triggered by the 2022 invasion of Russia.
« We are absolutely committed to achieving a just and lasting peace in Ukraine and these conversations are an important part of this today, » said the spokesman.
The reduction in the conversations took place in the middle of a deadly drone attack in the city of Ukraine of Marhanets at the beginning of Wednesday. A Russian drone hit a bus, killing nine people and injured -about 50, according to Kyiv officials.
Zelenskyy said the bus transported workers on a mining and processing plant.
« An ordinary bus. It is clear that a civil object, a civilian goal, » Zelenskyy told X.
Last week, Rubio said that the United States framework for a peace agreement he and Witkoff proposed in Paris received an encouraging reception.
But several sources told Reuters that some of Washington’s proposals were unacceptable for European countries and Kiev. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said on Tuesday that Europeans had detailed in the United States what they consider to be the non-negotiable aspects of a possible peace agreement.
Beyond Crimea, there are other important points of adherence, including the push of Russia to lift sanctions from the European Union against it before the end of negotiations, which Europe was careful, they said diplomats to Reuters.
Washington proposed last week to establish a neutral area at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in Ukraine occupied by Russian, according to European diplomats. Zelenskyy said on Tuesday that he would be ready to collaborate with the United States to restart the plant.
Ukraine and Europeans should also accept the remaining 20 % control of Russia in the territory of Ukraine. In addition, NATO membership would be ruled out in Ukraine and the United States will begin to lift sanctions in Russia.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said he would travel to Washington on Thursday, for talks planned with Rubio, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and National Security Advisor Mike Waltz
Putin offers weapons production but in flight more
Some of Washington’s ideas may also disgust Moscow. Two diplomats said that the United States did not pressure Russian demand for demilitarization Ukraine and did not oppose a European force as part of the future Ukraine safety guarantees.
The White House has said that Witkoff will meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin this week in Russia.
When the United States is trying to push Ukraine to a cessation of fire, Russia seems to be directed in the opposite direction. CBC Terence McKenna examines the last movements and why some think Vladimir Putin could be trying to manipulate Donald Trump through his billionaire real estate friend.
Putin’s comments said on Wednesday that Russia intends to improve military production in the fourth year of his war in Ukraine, even when he has talks on the perspectives to end the conflict.
Putin told a meeting of the State Military-Industrial Commission that, while last year there were 1.5 million drones of various types, « these weapons are not yet enough. »
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