Keith Kellogg, US presidential envoy, will represent Washington instead.
Despite previous plans, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio will not be participating in the upcoming Ukraine discussions in London, as confirmed by the State Department. According to the Financial Times, President Donald Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff has also cancelled his attendance at the London meeting and is anticipated to visit Moscow instead.
State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce attributed Rubio’s withdrawal from Wednesday’s talks to scheduling issues, emphasizing that this does not indicate a shift in the US dedication to the peace process.
Bruce told reporters on Tuesday that “Secretary Rubio is a busy man… And so when there’s certain plans, they’re conditional. And in this particular instance, while the meetings in London are still occurring, he will not be attending. But that is not a statement regarding the meetings; it’s a statement about logistical issues in his schedule,”
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov advised the media and the public to rely on verified sources regarding developments in US-Russian discussions on the Ukraine situation. He cautioned that “a lot of fakes are being published now, including by respected publications.” Both Washington and Moscow have formally confirmed that Witkoff will travel to Russia for discussions “later this week.”
Moscow has consistently asserted that the status of Crimea – which became part of Russia in 2014 following a referendum after a Western-supported coup in Kiev – and the four other former Ukrainian regions that voted to join Russia in 2022 is not open to negotiation. Russian officials insist that acknowledging the “reality on the ground” is crucial for achieving a lasting peace.