Peace in our time – or something like it. That was what Ukrainian, European and American foreign ministers were meant to plan in London today.
By the time world leaders gather in Rome for the Pope’s funeral on Saturday, the deal to end Europe’s bloodiest war since 1945 might have been in the bag. Instead, it has all fallen apart.
First, Marco Rubio, America’s Secretary of State, pulled out. Then Steve Witkoff, the US envoy charged with speaking to Vladimir Putin, cancelled.
In an apparent response, the French and German foreign ministers also withdrew. Now, the Foreign Secretary David Lammy has ditched the whole idea of the summit as it had been envisaged.
Instead President Trump’s Ukraine envoy, Keith Kellogg, the only American official to keep the appointment, will join lower-level delegations.
The bargain
Ukraine’s foreign and defence ministers, plus Volodymyr Zelensky’s chief of staff, have still made it to London. Together, they will discuss a seven-point plan to end the conflict, presented by the Americans at a previous meeting in Paris last week.
But the downgrading of the talks adds to the sense that any hopes of an imminent deal to end the conflict hinge on events in Moscow, where Putin and Witkoff will meet this week for the fourth time.
The US-devised plan would see America formally recognise Russia’s annexation of Crimea, and Ukraine renounce its quest to join Nato. Russia, in exchange, would cede two small segments of occupied territory to allow Ukraine free access to the mouth of the Dnipro river. The Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, which sits on the Russian-controlled bank of the river, would be taken under American control. The frontline, presumably, would be frozen where it is. Ukraine would also sign the minerals deal, allowing US companies access to the country’s natural resources.
Finally, America would lift sanctions imposed on Russia since 2014 and begin to cooperate with Russia on energy.
Peace in our time – or something like it. That was what Ukrainian, European and American foreign ministers were meant to plan in London today.
By the time world leaders gather in Rome for the Pope’s funeral on Saturday, the deal to end Europe’s bloodiest war since 1945 might have been in the bag. Instead, it has all fallen apart.
First, Marco Rubio, America’s Secretary of State, pulled out. Then Steve Witkoff, the US envoy charged with speaking to Vladimir Putin, cancelled.
In an apparent response, the French and German foreign ministers also withdrew. Now, the Foreign Secretary David Lammy has ditched the whole idea of the summit as it had been envisaged.
Instead President Trump’s Ukraine envoy, Keith Kellogg, the only American official to keep the appointment, will join lower-level delegations.
The bargain
Ukraine’s foreign and defence ministers, plus Volodymyr Zelensky’s chief of staff, have still made it to London. Together, they will discuss a seven-point plan to end the conflict, presented by the Americans at a previous meeting in Paris last week.
But the downgrading of the talks adds to the sense that any hopes of an imminent deal to end the conflict hinge on events in Moscow, where Putin and Witkoff will meet this week for the fourth time.
The US-devised plan would see America formally recognise Russia’s annexation of Crimea, and Ukraine renounce its quest to join Nato. Russia, in exchange, would cede two small segments of occupied territory to allow Ukraine free access to the mouth of the Dnipro river. The Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, which sits on the Russian-controlled bank of the river, would be taken under American control. The frontline, presumably, would be frozen where it is. Ukraine would also sign the minerals deal, allowing US companies access to the country’s natural resources.
Finally, America would lift sanctions imposed on Russia since 2014 and begin to cooperate with Russia on energy.