David Lammy humiliated as US pulls out of his London Ukraine summit | Politics | News | EUROtoday

David Lammy has pulled out of his personal London Ukraine peace summit in the present day after an embarrassing snub by the Americans. The UK Government had been assured this weekend that Marco Rubio, the US overseas secretary, and US particular envoy Steve Witkoff, can be in attendance on the crunch assembly.

However, David Lammy has been dealt a humiliating blow as each US high brass politicians pulled out. Representatives from Ukraine, the UK and France will nonetheless meet in the present day, however it’ll not be primarily hosted by overseas secretary David Lammy. Neither Mr Rubio nor Mr Witkoff defined their motive for not attending.

The US will as a substitute be represented by Keith Kelogg, the White House’s Ukraine envoy.

Mr Lammy has mentioned in the present day’s assembly in London will embody dialogue of “what a ceasefire might look like and how to secure peace in the long term”.

Ahead of Wednesday’s talks, Foreign Secretary David Lammy mentioned he had a “productive call” with Mr Rubio.

He mentioned: “The UK is working with the US, Ukraine and Europe to put an end to Putin’s illegal invasion.”

The summit comes amid experiences Donald Trump is backing ceasefire proposals that may permit Putin to maintain maintain of practically all of the territory he’s captured from Ukraine because the struggle broke out.

The main concession to Russia’s bloodthirsty tyrant is a part of a seven-point plan to finish the struggle, however which comprises no US safety assure for Ukraine to make sure the peace is saved.

In return, Ukraine would regain two small areas of its land at present occupied by Russian troops, and regain full entry to the mouth of the Dnieper river.

The plan will kind a part of in the present day’s dialogue in London, and be the primary alternative for the US to listen to Ukraine’s ideas.

Mr Rubio mentioned the US delegation – now with out him – was “looking forward to substantive and good technical meetings with Ukrainian and UK counterparts” and indicated he can be “rescheduling my trip to the UK in the coming months”.

The summit additionally comes after Vladimir Putin introduced a supposed ceasefire in Ukraine over the Easter weekend, nonetheless Kyiv reported 1000’s of incidents of Russian troops persevering with the preventing.

These claims have been backed by the UK’s ministry of defence yesterday, with defence secretary John Healey telling the Commons: “Despite President Putin’s promise of a 30-hour pause in fighting, I can confirm that Defence Intelligence [an MoD unit] has found, and I quote, ‘no indication that a ceasefire on the frontline was observed over the Easter period’.”

“So, while Putin has said he declared an Easter truce – he broke it.

“While Putin says he wants peace – he rejected a full ceasefire. And while Putin says he wants to put an end to the fighting – he continues to play for time in negotiations.”