Bloomberg reported on the United States’ intentions to play a key role in future negotiations aimed at ending the war in Ukraine, which are scheduled to take place in the coming days in London
According to sources from the publication, high-ranking diplomatic and political figures will represent the participating states in the negotiations, including Senator Marco Rubio, as well as Steve Witkoff and Kit Kellogg—individuals directly connected with the team of former President Donald Trump. These meetings are expected to become another step in the search for ways to end the armed conflict, which has been devastating Ukraine for over a year, causing human tragedies and infrastructure destruction. Volodymyr Zelensky, commenting on the situation earlier this week via social media platform X (formerly Twitter), reaffirmed his readiness for constructive dialogue. In an interview, he emphasized that the Ukrainian side aims to find a path to an unconditional ceasefire and the establishment of long-term peace through diplomacy. "We are open to discussions and prepared to move forward in the most constructive way possible to stop the war and restore peace in our homes," Zelensky said. According to Bloomberg, the planned negotiations will be held in a closed format, without media participation. Diplomats' advisors and high-level security officials from France, Germany, the United Kingdom, and Ukraine will participate. The main goal of the meetings will be to discuss potential steps toward de-escalation and to explore paths to end the war. Additionally, the negotiations will focus on future settlement issues, including possible compromises within the sanctions framework against Russia, and defining parameters for resolving the status of occupied territories. Sources close to the situation indicate that, within the negotiation process, the US is willing to consider certain easing of sanctions against Moscow, including the potential recognition of Russian control over Crimea. While Ukraine’s accession to NATO is not currently under discussion in the upcoming agreements, proposals include security guarantees for Kyiv—namely, legal assurances and support from partner states to ensure Ukraine feels protected regardless of the war's outcome. An important aspect of the negotiation process involves fixing the line of contact through an agreement that likely would leave Russia in control of a significant part of the occupied territories in the east and south of Ukraine. This suggests that, without significant steps from Moscow, a "frozen conflict" could be introduced without a full resolution regarding the return of all Ukrainian lands. It is worth recalling that a preparatory step for this meeting was the first phone call of the year between President Zelensky and UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, which took place on April 21. During the conversation, Zelensky emphasized that the upcoming negotiations in London should become a crucial stage in seeking a diplomatic solution, and called on the international community to actively participate in resolving the conflict. The official position of the US and its allies is aimed at balancing support for Ukraine in its struggle for sovereignty with seeking a compromise that could end the bloodshed. However, the announced steps, including possible sanctions relief and recognition of certain territories under Russian control, have sparked lively debates both within Ukraine and in the global diplomatic arena. Nonetheless, a final consensus has not yet been reached, and the details of the agreements are still under discussion. That is why the London negotiations are considered one of the most important stages in the diplomatic process of resolving the Ukraine-Russia conflict. They mark a new phase in the efforts to find a compromise that would restore international order and give Ukraine a chance to stabilize and rebuild peace. However, many challenges and unresolved issues remain ahead, which will determine the future of the region and its security landscape.