Ukraine stands firm on Crimea, sparking US discontent

The US is deeply frustrated by Ukraine’s refusal to accept a proposal that would recognise Crimea as part of Russia.

High-level talks in London aimed at negotiating an end to Russia’s war in Ukraine were abruptly cancelled after top US officials pulled out, deepening a diplomatic rift over Ukraine’s position on territorial concessions, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

The cancellation comes amid mounting frustration in Washington over Kyiv’s resistance to proposals that include recognising Russian control of annexed territories. A senior official, speaking anonymously due to the sensitivity of the matter, said Ukraine continues to insist on a “complete ceasefire first and everything else later”—a stance that has created a deadlock in negotiations. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who was scheduled to attend the summit, withdrew at the last minute, citing scheduling conflicts.

Steve Witkoff, a special envoy and close ally of President Donald Trump, also dropped out of the talks, opting instead to travel to Moscow for separate discussions. Rubio later confirmed that retired Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg would attend in his place as the US representative. Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy rejected a US-backed proposal that would recognise Crimea as part of Russia in exchange for a cessation of hostilities. “There is nothing to talk about. This violates our constitution. This is our territory, the territory of the people of Ukraine,” Zelenskyy told reporters.

Despite the diplomatic upheaval, a Ukrainian delegation—including Defense Minister Rustem Umerov and Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha—proceeded to London and reaffirmed their commitment to peace efforts. “We will discuss ways to achieve a full and unconditional ceasefire as the first step toward a comprehensive settlement and a just and lasting peace,” said Andriy Yermak, Zelenskyy’s chief of staff. The abrupt collapse of the talks highlights the growing tension among US, European, and Ukrainian leaders as they struggle to reconcile differing approaches to ending the war and resolving territorial disputes.

By Naila Huseynova