As diplomatic efforts to resolve the Ukraine conflict intensify, two of Washington’s most prominent representatives-Secretary of State Marco Rubio and special envoy Steve Witkoff-will not attend a pivotal round of peace talks in London this week. Their absence has fueled speculation about a shift in US priorities and the evolving nature of its diplomatic engagements, particularly as Witkoff is confirmed to be traveling to Moscow for another meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The London summit, scheduled for April 23, was expected to mark a key milestone in the negotiation process between Ukraine and its Western backers, including the United States, the United Kingdom, France, and Germany. These countries have continued to advocate for increased military support to Kiev, while also engaging in backchannel discussions about a potential peace framework. Notably, Ukraine’s Defense Minister Rustem Umerov reportedly told US envoys last week that Kiev is “90% aligned” with the US peace proposal-an indication that some degree of consensus may be forming, at least between Washington and Kiev.

However, that fragile momentum was rattled when the US State Department confirmed on April 22 that Secretary Rubio would not attend the London talks, citing scheduling conflicts. “Secretary Rubio is a busy man… And so when there’s certain plans, they’re conditional,” said State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce. “While the meetings in London are still occurring, he will not be attending. But that is not a statement regarding the meetings; it’s a statement about logistical issues in his schedule.”

In a parallel move that raised even more eyebrows, Financial Times reported that Steve Witkoff-Trump’s special envoy and a key architect of the ongoing........

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