U.S. Diplomatic Efforts to Broker Ukraine Conflict Pause Falter as Key Officials Withdraw from Talks

High-level diplomatic efforts to negotiate a pause in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine faced a significant setback on Wednesday. Talks aimed at achieving a short-term peace agreement disintegrated after U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and special envoy Steve Witkoff withdrew from the meeting. This development has dealt a blow to Kyiv’s aspirations for a swift resolution to the hostilities.

Despite the collapse of the ministerial talks that were scheduled to take place in London, President Donald Trump’s special envoy to Ukraine, Keith Kellogg, continued with plans to meet Ukrainian presidential chief of staff Andriy Yermak. Yermak, along with Ukraine’s defense and foreign ministers, had arrived in London early Wednesday in anticipation of the discussions. This marks the second warning from the Trump administration in less than a week, despite President Trump’s earlier promises to end the conflict promptly upon commencing his second term.

In the face of these challenges, Andriy Yermak expressed determination to pursue peace efforts. In a post on the social media platform X, he stated, “Despite everything, we continue working for peace.” This statement underscores Ukraine’s commitment to seeking a resolution, even as diplomatic efforts encounter obstacles.

The setback comes at a time when the Trump administration has intensified its efforts to encourage Kyiv and Moscow to agree to a truce. U.S. officials, including Vance, have been actively engaging with envoys from Washington, Kyiv, and European nations in the U.K. as part of a renewed push to end the conflict. Speaking from India, where he is on a four-day visit, Vance emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating, “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.”