US-Europe talks to end Ukraine war downgraded as Rubio cancels London trip

LONDON/PARIS, April 23 – Talks between the U.S., Ukraine and European officials to discuss ending Russia’s war in Ukraine faltered on Wednesday as U.S.Secretary of State Marco Rubio abruptly canceled his trip to London and negotiations were downgraded.Rubio’s no show prompted a broader meeting of foreign ministers from Ukraine, Britain, France and Germany to be canceled, although talks continued at a lower level.

The U.S.would now be represented by Ukraine envoy General Keith Kellogg.The downgrading of the talks comes at a critical time, just days after U.S. President Donald Trump warned that Washington could walk away if there was no progress on a deal soon.

Trump raised the pressure on Sunday when he said he hoped Moscow and Kyiv would make a deal this week to end the three-year war.A European official said Rubio had indicated to his British hosts concerns that Ukraine could revert to its toughest positions, making any breakthrough at the talks impossible.Rubio spoke to British Foreign Secretary David Lammy late on Tuesday and said he looked forward to rescheduling his trip in the coming months after Wednesday’s “technical meetings.”Speaking on his arrival in London with the foreign and defense ministers, Ukrainian presidential adviser Andriy Yermak said the talks would focus on ways to achieve a full and unconditional ceasefire as a first step to peace.“Despite everything, we will work for peace,” he said on social media.The meeting is a follow-up to a similar session in Paris last week where U.S., Ukrainian and European officials discussed ways to move forward and narrow positions.During those talks, Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff presented a paper to the participants outlining proposals in which Ukraine in particular, but also Russia, would need to make concessions, according to three diplomats aware of the talks.The diplomats differed on whether the position paper was a firm U.S.stance or a starting point to work with Ukrai...