A high-level meeting on Ukraine’s future, initially billed as ministerial peace talks, has been abruptly downgraded and closed to the media following last-minute changes in attendance and shifting geopolitical signals.
The event, due to be hosted today in London by UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy, was expected to gather foreign ministers from key Western allies including the United States, France, and Germany.
In a brief statement issued this morning, the UK Foreign Office announced: “The Ukraine peace talks meeting with foreign ministers today is being postponed. Official level talks will continue but these are closed to media.” The language reflects a significant shift in tone, particularly after recent public efforts by the British government to elevate the importance of the meeting.
Despite the change, Ukraine has proceeded with its diplomatic presence. Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, has arrived in the British capital, accompanied by Defence Minister Rustem Umerov and Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha. Writing on social media, Yermak stated: “Despite everything, we will work for peace.” He underscored Ukraine’s objective for “a complete and unconditional ceasefire” as a foundation for a “just and sustainable peace”.
“Today we will talk about ways to achieve a complete and unconditional ceasefire as the first step towards a full-fledged settlement process,” he wrote. “The path is not easy, but we remain committed.”
According to reporting from The Guardian, the downgrade followed indications that US Secretary of State Marco Rubio would be unable to attend. Rubio confirmed via social media that he would be “rescheduling my trip to the UK in the coming months”. His absence appears to have prompted a wider recalibration of the meeting’s format, which had been expected to include key European stakeholders.
Late last night, Lammy said he had held productive discussions with Rubio and hinted that follow-up talks would take place at the official level rather than ministerial. “Talks continue at pace and officials will meet in London tomorrow. This is a critical moment for Ukraine, Britain and Euro-Atlantic security,” Lammy posted.
The development coincides with renewed speculation regarding Russia’s negotiating stance. Intelligence leaks suggest that Moscow may be prepared to drop its territorial claims to three Ukrainian regions which it does not fully control. In exchange, the Kremlin would reportedly seek US recognition of its annexation of Crimea, occupied since 2014.
Although these reports remain unconfirmed, they have fuelled further speculation about the realignments within diplomatic backchannels and the possible shape of any future settlement. The decision to continue talks at the official level implies that negotiations are ongoing, albeit away from public scrutiny.
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