U.S. Secretary of State Rubio will not attend the talks in London due to Zelensky’s rejection of U.S. proposals on Crimea

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio did not travel to London for negotiations with Ukraine because Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky rejected U.S. proposals concerning Crimea.

This was reported by The New York Times, linking Rubio’s decision to Zelensky’s statements.

Rubio decided to skip the next round of talks “as Ukraine rejected one of President Trump’s key proposals.”

According to NYT, during the previous meeting in Paris, the U.S. had presented a proposal “which includes a demand for Ukraine to recognize Russia’s annexation of Crimea and to rule out NATO membership.”

However, Zelensky stated yesterday that “Ukraine will not legally recognize the occupation of Crimea.”

The paper notes that Rubio’s decision to skip the London talks came on the same day the U.S. State Department had confirmed his attendance.

It’s worth noting that other Western media outlets report that under Trump’s plan, only the United States would recognize Crimea as Russian — not Ukraine. Kyiv is simply being asked to acknowledge that the U.S. has done so.

They also explain that Rubio and Witkoff’s refusal to attend the London meeting is linked to Ukraine’s position: Kyiv is willing to discuss only a 30-day ceasefire, not the broader peace plan that the U.S. expected a response to in London.

Additionally, Zelensky voiced opposition to another element of the Trump plan — transferring control of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant to the United States. He stated that only Ukraine can manage the facility.

Sky News also connects Rubio’s refusal to attend the London meeting with Zelensky’s position on Crimea.

“The U.S. peace proposal set to be discussed in London includes U.S. recognition of Russia’s illegal annexation of Crimea — which Zelensky rejected on Tuesday,” Sky News reported.

However, it’s important to note that on Tuesday, Zelensky did not comment on the U.S. intention to recognize Crimea; he only said that Ukraine would not recognize the annexation.

Sky News further reports that after Rubio pulled out, foreign ministers from Paris and Berlin also “apparently” withdrew from the talks. Ukraine will be represented by Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha, who will hold a bilateral meeting with British counterpart David Lammy.

Additionally, CNN confirms that Rubio’s absence is due to Zelensky rejecting the U.S. proposal to recognize Crimea as Russian.

“The [U.S.] proposal includes recognizing Russian control over Crimea, the southern Ukrainian peninsula illegally annexed by Moscow in 2014,” a CNN source familiar with the plan said. “It also calls for a ceasefire along the front lines.”

But “on Tuesday, Zelensky indicated he is open to talks with Russia, though Kyiv will not accept any deal that recognizes Moscow’s control over Crimea,” CNN added.