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JD Vance says US will 'walk away' unless Ukraine and Russia agree to proposals Trump accuses Zelensky of harming Ukraine peace negotiations
(about 5 hours later)
US Vice-President JD Vance said his country would "walk away" unless Ukraine and Russia agree on a deal, echoing recent comments from US officials. Donald Trump has accused Volodymyr Zelensky of harming peace negotiations over the war in Ukraine with "inflammatory statements".
His warning came after London talks between officials from the UK, France, Germany, Ukraine and the US aimed at securing a ceasefire were downgraded after US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and special envoy Steve Witkoff pulled out. The Ukrainian president told a news conference on Tuesday that Kyiv would not recognise Russian control of Crimea, comments which Trump said "would do nothing but prolong" the conflict.
The US is focused on talks this week in Moscow, where Witkoff will meet Russian President Vladimir Putin for the fourth time, as the pace of diplomacy to end the war quickens. The US president's remarks on his social media platform Truth Social came after Vice-President JD Vance said the US would "walk away" from its deal making role if the two sides did not come to an agreement.
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky, meanwhile, said he insisted on "an immediate, full, and unconditional ceasefire". US officials pulled out of a London meeting this week to focus on talks in Moscow, as the pace of diplomacy to end the war quickens.
A key part of the US proposal to end the conflict, according to leaks in recent days, involves recognising Crimea – which was annexed illegally by Russia in 2014 – as de jure Russian territory.
"There's nothing to talk about here. This is against our constitution," Zelensky said.
In response, Trump said: "This statement is very harmful to the peace negotiations with Russia", adding that it would prolong the "killing field".
"It's inflammatory statements like Zelensky's that makes it so difficult to settle this war," Trump said.
"Stopping the killing is task number one," Zelensky said on social media on Wednesday."Stopping the killing is task number one," Zelensky said on social media on Wednesday.
His remarks come as Vance told reporters during a visit to India that the US had issued a "very explicit proposal" to both the Russians and Ukrainians. The comments are the latest chapter in an often fractious relationship between the two leaders.
"It's time for them to either say yes or for the US to walk away from this process," he added. "We've engaged in an extraordinary amount of diplomacy, of on the ground work." In February, the pair clashed in a fiery meeting in the Oval Office.
Trump's Ukraine envoy, Gen Keith Kellogg, is attending the talks in London instead of Witkoff and Rubio, who referred to Wednesday's talks as "technical meetings". ANALYSIS: US intensifying bid to end Ukraine war - but chances of success remain unclear
UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy is hosting a bilateral meeting with his Ukrainian counterpart also on Wednesday. Trump repeatedly said on the campaign trail he could end the Ukraine-Russia war in one day, but as he approaches his 100th day in office a truce remains elusive, appearing to wear thin the patience of the White House.
Vance told reporters this week during a visit to India: "It's time for them to either say yes or for the US to walk away from this process."
"We've engaged in an extraordinary amount of diplomacy, of on the ground work, he said.
Vance said a deal between Russia and Ukraine would likely require both countries "to have to give up some of the territory they currently own".
Watch in full: The remarkable exchange between Zelensky and Trump
London talks between officials from the UK, France, Germany, Ukraine and the US aimed at securing a ceasefire were downgraded this week after US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and special envoy Steve Witkoff pulled out.
Instead, Trump's Ukraine envoy, Gen Keith Kellogg, is attending the talks in London and Witkoff will be headed to Russia to meet with President Vladimir Putin for the fourth time.
British diplomats said they were not entirely clear why Rubio and Witkoff had pulled out of the London talks.
The US state department blamed logistical reasons, but it was clear the decision was last-minute and left the Foreign Office wrongfooted.
There is growing speculation that Russia might be willing to halt its invasion along current front lines in return for significant concessions.There is growing speculation that Russia might be willing to halt its invasion along current front lines in return for significant concessions.
However, there is little clarity about where the latest talks are heading or whether they will succeed.However, there is little clarity about where the latest talks are heading or whether they will succeed.
Vance on Wednesday said: "It's now time, I think, to take, if not the final step, one of the final steps, which is, at a broad level, the party saying we're going to stop the killing, we're going to freeze the territorial lines at some level close to where they are today."
"Now, of course, that means the Ukrainians and the Russians are both going to have to give up some of the territory they currently own," he added.
Zelensky has ruled out recognising occupied Crimea as Russian territory, after reports suggested this was being considered by the US and the Kremlin.
Russia intensified its attacks on Ukraine on Wednesday, after a brief lull over Easter when it halted air strikes.Russia intensified its attacks on Ukraine on Wednesday, after a brief lull over Easter when it halted air strikes.
Nine people were killed and dozens more wounded in the eastern Ukrainian city of Marhanets when a Russian drone hit a bus carrying workers.Nine people were killed and dozens more wounded in the eastern Ukrainian city of Marhanets when a Russian drone hit a bus carrying workers.
Officials in the southern region of Kherson said a key facility supplying electricity had been destroyed after coming under repeated Russian attack.
The UK Foreign Office confirmed on Wednesday that talks between foreign ministers had been postponed. "Official level talks will continue but these are closed to media," the statement said.
British diplomats said they were not entirely clear why Rubio and Witkoff had pulled out of the London talks.
The US state department blamed logistical reasons, but it was clear the decision was last-minute and left the Foreign Office wrongfooted.
Rubio spoke to the UK foreign secretary on Tuesday evening about what he hoped would be "substantive and good technical meetings", adding that he would reschedule his planned trip to UK in the coming months.
Lammy called the conversation "productive", taking place ahead of a "critical moment for Ukraine, Britain and Euro-Atlantic Security" as "talks continue at pace".
The US secretary of state said on X: "I look forward to following up after the ongoing discussions."
The US decision may have been because the Americans felt they had nothing new to say since they last met in Paris last week - or they may have realised the Ukrainians were likely to reject the latest US ceasefire plan and did not want to hear bad news.
The White House said Witkoff would travel to Moscow this week for his fourth meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Watch: BBC on the scene of a devastating Russian missile attack in SumyWatch: BBC on the scene of a devastating Russian missile attack in Sumy
All this comes amid a report in the Financial Times that Russia might be ready to halt its invasion along existing front lines and give up territorial claims to areas it does not currently occupy, in return for US recognition of Russian sovereignty over Crimea.All this comes amid a report in the Financial Times that Russia might be ready to halt its invasion along existing front lines and give up territorial claims to areas it does not currently occupy, in return for US recognition of Russian sovereignty over Crimea.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov rejected the report, telling state media that "a lot of fakes are published nowadays".Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov rejected the report, telling state media that "a lot of fakes are published nowadays".
Zelensky said no such proposals had been shared with him and he rejected recognising Crimea as Russian territory.Zelensky said no such proposals had been shared with him and he rejected recognising Crimea as Russian territory.
"Ukraine does not legally recognise the occupation of Crimea. There's nothing to talk about," he said during a news briefing on Tuesday night.
Recognising Russia's illegal annexation of Crimea would not only be politically impossible for Zelensky to accept, it would also be contrary to post-war international legal norms that borders should not be changed by force.Recognising Russia's illegal annexation of Crimea would not only be politically impossible for Zelensky to accept, it would also be contrary to post-war international legal norms that borders should not be changed by force.
Speaking to BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Yuriy Sak, an adviser to Ukraine's ministry of strategic industries, said it was "not productive to discuss" such reports and added it was "naïve" to expect Ukraine to change its position on "non-negotiable" issues such as Crimea.Speaking to BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Yuriy Sak, an adviser to Ukraine's ministry of strategic industries, said it was "not productive to discuss" such reports and added it was "naïve" to expect Ukraine to change its position on "non-negotiable" issues such as Crimea.
Sak added that Ukrainian negotiators would attend the London meeting on a "very clear, narrow mandate" to achieve a ceasefire that will "pave the way for further talks".Sak added that Ukrainian negotiators would attend the London meeting on a "very clear, narrow mandate" to achieve a ceasefire that will "pave the way for further talks".
Putin called a temporary ceasefire for the Easter weekend but UK Defence Secretary John Healey told the House of Commons on Tuesday that British military intelligence had found no evidence of a let-up in attacks.Putin called a temporary ceasefire for the Easter weekend but UK Defence Secretary John Healey told the House of Commons on Tuesday that British military intelligence had found no evidence of a let-up in attacks.
"While Putin has said he declared an Easter truce, he broke it," he said. "While Putin says he wants peace, he has rejected a full ceasefire and while Putin says he wants to put an end to the fighting, he continues to play for time in the negotiations.""While Putin has said he declared an Easter truce, he broke it," he said. "While Putin says he wants peace, he has rejected a full ceasefire and while Putin says he wants to put an end to the fighting, he continues to play for time in the negotiations."
Healey added that he could "confirm Russian military progress" was "slowing" while the country continued to "pressure Ukraine on a number of fronts".
It is estimated that hundreds of thousands of people have been killed or injured on all sides since Russia invaded Ukraine on 24 February 2022, and nearly seven million Ukrainians are currently listed as refugees worldwide.It is estimated that hundreds of thousands of people have been killed or injured on all sides since Russia invaded Ukraine on 24 February 2022, and nearly seven million Ukrainians are currently listed as refugees worldwide.
The conflict goes back more than a decade, to 2014, when Ukraine's pro-Russian president was overthrown. Russia then annexed Crimea and backed militants in bloody fighting in eastern Ukraine.The conflict goes back more than a decade, to 2014, when Ukraine's pro-Russian president was overthrown. Russia then annexed Crimea and backed militants in bloody fighting in eastern Ukraine.
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