Ukraine, Western countries meet on Russia war as diplomats say breakthrough unlikely

LONDON/PARIS, April 23 (Reuters) - U.S., Ukrainian and European officials meet in London on Wednesday about ending Russia's war in Ukraine after warnings by U.S. President Donald Trump that Washington could walk away if there is no progress on a deal soon.

Trump's Ukraine envoy General Keith Kellogg will participate in the talks. But Secretary of State Marco Rubio will no longer join the London discussion, State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce told reporters on Tuesday, hours after confirming on Fox Business Network's "Mornings with Maria" that the top U.S. diplomat would attend.

It was unclear if Rubio's absence meant the United States had downgraded its expectations for the talks after Trump said on Sunday he hoped Moscow and Kyiv would make a deal this week to end the three-year-old conflict.

But few diplomats considered that realistic given the significant gaps remaining. The expectations for a breakthrough were slim, despite pressure from Trump to make this a decisive moment.

"The ball is in Russia's court … We clearly support President Trump's attempts to bring peace (and) Ukraine's calls for Russia to commit a full ceasefire," a spokesperson for British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said.

Trump special envoy Steve Witkoff will not be part of the London talks. But, on Washington's parallel track of diplomacy with Moscow, he will meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin this week in Russia, the White House said.

The London meeti...
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