Putin offers to 'halt Ukraine invasion' as new peace plan revealed

High-level ministerial talks aimed at securing peace between Russia and Ukraine have been abruptly scrapped, with only officials now due to attend a downgraded summit in London on Wednesday. The move follows the withdrawal of US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, with the UK Government confirming late on Tuesday that foreign ministers will no longer be taking part - just days after President Vladimir Putin offered to freeze the conflict along current front lines, a proposal Kyiv has flatly rejected.

Foreign Secretary David Lammy confirmed on X that the meeting would now proceed at official level only. British ministers will not attend, and the Defence Secretary, Mr John Healey, who had earlier previewed the summit’s focus on a possible ceasefire, will also be absent. The US State Department blamed Mr Rubio’s withdrawal on a scheduling conflict.

However, the shift has raised questions over Washington’s commitment to the process, with sources indicating the Trump administration is growing increasingly frustrated with the lack of progress in negotiations.

One of those attending in place of Mr Rubio will be retired Lieutenant General Keith Kellogg, Donald Trump’s envoy for Ukraine and Russia. Mr Kellogg also took part in talks in Paris last week, where a controversial proposal was floated which would see Russia allowed to retain control of swathes of occupied Ukrainian territory.

According to a European official familiar with those discussions, the US has floated the idea of a ceasefire based on current lines of control — effectively accepting Russian gains in Crimea, Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy strongly rejected the idea, stating: “There is nothing to talk about — it is our land, the land of the Ukrainian people.” He said Ukraine’s delegation heading to London had a clear mandate to discuss only an unconditional or partial ceasefire.

Despite reservations among European allies, some diplomats have privately acknowledged the battlefield reality. “If the goal is to obtain a ceasefire immediately, it should be based on the line of contact as it is,” said a senior French official, who was not authorised to speak publicly.

The cancellation of ministerial involvement has underscored the fragility of the current diplomatic effort. The UK has downplayed expectations of any breakthrough, but still insists the talks are an important opportunity to maintain pressure on Russia.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s spokesman said: “The ball’s in Russia’s court. Now is the time for President Putin to show he’s serious about peace.”

Moscow, however, appears in no rush. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said any resolution would require “complex” negotiations, and warned against imposing artificial deadlines.

Russia has also rejected a recent US proposal for a full 30-day ceasefire, instead responding with broad and far-reaching demands.

Putin declared a 30-hour unilateral ceasefire over the weekend — but Ukrainian and British officials said Russian attacks continued throughout. The Associated Press said it was unable to confirm whether fighting had paused anywhere along the 1,000km front line.

Both Ukraine and Russia are now preparing for a renewed spring-summer offensive, with officials on both sides signalling that any pause in fighting is likely to be short-lived.

Posting on X, Ukrainian MP Inna Sovsun warned: "Some are now suggesting that Crimea be recognised as "Russian", as if a compromise to Putin could somehow end the war.

"Let's be clear: this is not diplomacy. This is capitulation dressed up as strategy.

"Legitimising the territories captured by Russia will not stop the bloodshed, it will only fuel it. Not only in Ukraine, but all over the world. It will send a message to every dictator: invade, kill, annex - and the world will watch it all."