Great Britain Before London meeting: Selensky rules out Crimea renunciation
Ahead of talks between Western allies in London about an end to the Russian war of aggression, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky categorically rules out ceding territory to Russia. "There is nothing to talk about. That is outside of our constitution," said the head of state in Kiev, referring to Ukrainian territories annexed by Russia, such as the Black Sea peninsula of Crimea. According to media reports, Ukrainian territorial cessions to Russia are at least the subject of talks between Washington and Moscow.
23.04.2025, 07:32
SDA
Foreign ministers and security advisors from the USA, several European allies and Ukraine want to continue their discussions on ending the Russian war of aggression in London today. A similar meeting was held in Paris last week. US President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio then threatened that Washington could abandon its efforts to achieve peace if an agreement was not reached soon.
According to a report in the Wall Street Journal, the White House expects a response from Kiev to proposals for concessions to Moscow at the talks in London. According to the report, Ukraine should not only renounce NATO membership, but also the Crimean peninsula annexed by Russia in 2014. If Kiev gives the green light, the plans could be presented to Moscow, according to the report.
Report: Putin offers to stop the invasion on the front line
Meanwhile, the Financial Times, citing people familiar with the matter, reported that Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin had offered to stop the invasion of Ukraine at the current front line. The newspaper also reported, citing three people familiar with the talks, that Russia could renounce its claims to the parts of the four occupied Ukrainian regions that Kiev still controls. The parts that are already under Russian control are to be awarded to Russia.
According to the Washington Post, the USA is also proposing to freeze the current front lines as part of a peace agreement. In return, Russia would end its attacks in Ukraine at a time when the Russian military is on the advance.
Under Trump, the US has made a sharp change of course and is no longer prepared to support Ukraine in its long-term defensive struggle against the Russian invasion. Above all, Washington is putting pressure on Kiev to achieve peace quickly. Ukraine has been defending itself against a Russian invasion for more than three years. Crimea was annexed by Russia back in 2014.
Rubio will not be in London
Contrary to initial reports, Rubio will not be attending the meeting, according to a spokesperson for his ministry. US special envoy Keith Kellogg will attend as planned. It remains unclear whether US special envoy Steve Witkoff will attend. Germany will be represented in London by Jens Plötner, Foreign and Security Policy Advisor to the Federal Chancellor, and Günter Sautter, Political Director at the Federal Foreign Office.
The host is the British Foreign Secretary David Lammy. It is expected that the Ukrainian delegation will be led by the Head of the President's Office, Andriy Yermak, similar to previous meetings of this kind in Paris. Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha and Defense Minister Rustem Umyerov are also expected to attend. This has not yet been confirmed.
Zelenskyi ready for partial ceasefire
Referring to his delegation, Zelensky said on Tuesday: "Tomorrow it has a mandate to discuss an unconditional ceasefire or a partial ceasefire." Ukraine is ready for this. However, Ukraine would not legally recognize the Russian annexation of the Crimean peninsula and other Ukrainian territories. This is the territory of the Ukrainian people and he, as President, has already stated several times that there can be no recognition of Russian sovereignty over these territories.
At the same time, Zelensky reiterated his willingness to agree to a partial ceasefire with Russia. "Ukraine is ready for an unconditional ceasefire, and if this ceasefire is partial, then we are ready for mirror-image measures," said the head of state. He cited the renunciation of attacks on energy facilities or the use of long-range weapons as examples.
For Selenskyj, the ceasefire declared by Russia last Easter Sunday is proof that it depends solely on Moscow to reduce the shelling. "But there is still a long way to go before an unconditional ceasefire", the President emphasized.
The US special envoy Witkoff wants to travel to Moscow again in the coming days to discuss an end to the Russian war of aggression with Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin. White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt announced such a meeting for "later this week". Witkoff had spoken to Putin personally on several occasions in the past and always made conspicuously positive comments about the Russian president following the talks.
Heavy Russian drone attacks
Russian combat drones attacked targets in Ukraine in the evening. The media reported fires in the southern Ukrainian port city of Odessa and in the central Ukrainian city of Poltava following strikes. According to the authorities, at least two people were injured in Odessa.
