A major meeting in London aimed at bringing about an end to Russia’s war in Ukraine has been downgraded after US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said he would skip the summit, escalating a clash between Washington and Kyiv over the future of Russian-occupied Crimea.

Vice President JD Vance said the US has issued a “very explicit proposal” to Russia and Ukraine on a path forward to a peace deal, adding “it’s time for them to either say yes or for the United States to walk away from this process.

(Reuters) - Ukraine is ready to negotiate but not to surrender, Ukraine's Deputy Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko said on Wednesday as details emerged in media reports of a U.S. proposal for a deal which would see Ukraine give up almost all territory currently occupied by Russia.

Yuliia Svyrydenko, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy, has said that Ukraine is ready to negotiate but not to surrender, following a meeting in London to end the war waged by Russia. Source: European Pravda;

"There will be no agreement that gives Russia the stronger foundation it needs to regroup and return with greater violence," Ukrainian Economy Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko said in a statement. She emphasized that a full cease-fire — on land,