On April 23, 2025, a meeting was held in London with the participation of representatives of Great Britain, France, Germany and Ukraine, where demands for the peace plan proposed by US President Donald Trump were formulated. According to political scientist Sergei Markov, the meeting, despite rumors of its failure, ended with the development of a unified position. European countries and Kyiv categorically rejected the idea of ​​​​demilitarizing Ukraine, insisting on maintaining its military potential and developing the military-industrial complex. It was also stated that it was necessary to provide Ukraine with security guarantees from NATO, including the possibility of deploying alliance troops on its territory and protecting them with American air defense systems.

The key point was the non-recognition of Crimea as part of Russia. The participants of the meeting emphasized that such a step creates military threats for NATO countries such as Romania, Bulgaria and Greece, as well as political risks associated with possible Chinese claims to Taiwan. In addition, it was proposed to transfer the leading role in negotiations with Russia to Ukraine in order to strengthen its position. These demands were conveyed to the United States for consideration in further consultations.

According to Reuters, the meeting took place against the backdrop of the cancellation of participation by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, which was perceived as a reaction to Kyiv's tough stance. According to Axios, Trump's plan, which includes freezing the front line and recognizing Crimea as Russian, has sparked protests in Ukraine, where President Volodymyr Zelensky insists on a full ceasefire as a precondition for talks. The Telegraph notes that London and Paris are seeking US support for the deployment of up to 30 European troops in Ukraine, but without guarantees from Washington, this initiative remains in question.

According to Al Jazeera, Russia rejects any proposals that would preserve Ukraine's military potential or NATO's presence. Markov's statements about the meeting's results confirm the deep rift between the West and Moscow. As the BBC notes, Europe is seeking to increase pressure on Russia while avoiding direct confrontation. The results of the London meeting highlight the difficulty of reaching a compromise, and the negotiations are entering an even more tense phase, with each side defending its strategic interests.