Vance warns US will "withdraw" if Russia, Ukraine do not accept proposals

US Vice President JD Vance said on Wednesday that the United States would "walk away" from diplomatic efforts to end the war if Ukraine and Russia do not agree to a deal, reaffirming previous comments by US officials, the BBC reports.

His warning came as a high-level meeting expected to be held in London between the foreign ministers of the UK, France, Germany, Ukraine and the US was downgraded to a meeting of officials after US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and special envoy Steve Witkoff refused to attend.

The US is focused on talks this week in Moscow, where Witkoff will meet for the fourth time with Russian President Vladimir Putin, as the pace of diplomatic efforts to end the war has increased.

On the other hand, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has insisted that "an immediate, complete and unconditional ceasefire is needed."