UK and Ukraine ministers meet as officials discuss peace plans

Foreign Secretary David Lammy and Defence Secretary John Healey met their Ukrainian counterparts as officials from the US and Europe conducted talks on efforts to end the war with Russia.

The “substantive” technical talks were downgraded from the high-level meeting of ministers which had been expected after US secretary of state Marco Rubio pulled out.

US President Donald Trump’s envoy for Ukraine and Russia Keith Kellogg represented Washington in the discussions in London instead.

Elsewhere, JD Vance, the American vice president, warned it was now time for Ukraine and Russia to agree the terms of a peace deal that would lead to massive territorial concessions, or the US would “walk away from this process”.

Despite the absence of top US figures from the London gathering, Mr Lammy and Mr Healey held talks with their Ukrainian counterparts, foreign minister Andrii Sybiha and defence minister Rustem Umerov.

Mr Sybiha said: “We are grateful to the UK for its leadership and support. We will discuss ways to strengthen Ukraine and guarantee long-term peace and security.”

Mr Umerov said they would “discuss ways to achieve a complete and unconditional ceasefire”.

The US state department blamed a scheduling issue for Mr Rubio’s absence, but it suggests the chances of a breakthrough in London are limited.

Mr Lammy and his US counterpart spoke on Tuesday night and agreed further technical talks were needed before the next meeting of ministers, a UK source said.

The Foreign Secretary said he had a “productive call” with Mr Rubio.

Mr Lammy said: “The UK is working with the US, Ukraine and Europe to put an end to Putin’s illegal invasion.”

Mr Rubio said the US delegation – now without him – was “looking forward to substantive and good technical meetings with Ukrainian and UK counterparts” and indicated he would be “rescheduling my trip to the UK in the coming months”.

Meanwhile, Steve Witkoff – a Trump envoy who has been deeply involved in negotiations – is set to return to Moscow this week.

Ukraine could be forced to swallow a bitter pill under terms being ironed out between the US and Russia, as first reported by the Financial Times.

Among the ideas floated by the US for the settlement are Moscow’s continued control of occupied Ukrainian regions, and US recognition that Russia owns the Crimean peninsula.

Speaking to reporters during a visit to India, Mr Vance said: “We’ve issued a very explicit proposal to both the Russians and the Ukrainians, and it’s time for them to either say ‘yes’ or for the United States to walk away from this process.”

He added the US’s “very fair proposal” would “freeze the territorial lines at some level close to where they are today,” with both sides having to give up some territory they currently hold, but did not provide further detail.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is unlikely to accept the surrender of Crimea and called for an unconditional ceasefire as the first step to negotiations to end the war.

“If we are ready for an unconditional ceasefire – it means silence at sea, in the air, and at the front, on the ground – Ukraine is ready to take the relevant steps,” he told reporters on Tuesday night.

Downing Street said the UK remains “absolutely committed” to securing a “just and lasting peace in Ukraine”.

Asked if Sir Keir Starmer was disappointed at Mr Rubio’s decision to pull out of the talks, the Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: “Today there will be substantive technical meetings with European, US and Ukrainian officials on how to stop the fighting and end Putin’s illegal invasion.”