Diplomatic efforts to end the Ukraine conflict have intensified ahead of a potential high-stakes summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, with U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance set to spearhead talks with British, European, and Ukrainian counterparts in the coming days.
Vance will meet UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy and representatives from Ukraine and EU nations in Britain this week, according to a Saturday report by Reuters citing a Downing Street spokesperson. The discussions aim to advance negotiations toward resolving the Russia-Ukraine war, which has persisted for over two years. The trip is widely viewed as groundwork for a planned meeting between Trump and Putin in Alaska on Friday, where brokering a ceasefire or settlement is expected to dominate discussions.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer held a call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky prior to the UK-hosted talks, during which they reviewed U.S.-proposed peace terms. A Downing Street spokesperson stated both leaders agreed the gathering would serve as a “vital forum” to advance a “just and lasting peace.” Specific proposals floated by the Trump administration reportedly include territorial adjustments between Ukraine and Russia, though details remain undisclosed.
The diplomatic flurry follows a visit to Moscow by Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, who reportedly made headway toward a compromise involving land swaps. Trump confirmed such ideas were under discussion, emphasizing the need for Zelensky to navigate Ukrainian legal frameworks to approve any deal. However, Zelensky’s office issued a sharp rebuke, declaring that “Ukrainians will not give their land to the occupiers” and rejecting external pressure for territorial concessions.
Moscow’s chief negotiator, Kirill Dmitriev, warned of attempts by unspecified nations to sabotage the Putin-Trump dialogue, alleging “efforts to prolong the conflict.” Echoing these concerns, former U.S. Defense Department adviser Dan Caldwell cited a “concerted effort to undermine” the Alaska summit, though he did not identify specific actors.
The developments highlight escalating tensions between diplomatic maneuvering and entrenched positions. While Western and Russian officials push to revive negotiations, Kyiv remains adamant against ceding sovereignty over territories seized by Moscow since 2014. With the Alaska summit looming, stakeholders face mounting pressure to reconcile starkly divergent priorities—balancing Ukraine’s territorial integrity against Russia’s security demands—amid warnings that diplomatic windows could close rapidly.
