Summary
- Vance and Lammy hosted Ukraine talks.
- Focused on peace and territorial disputes.
- US-Russia summit set for August 15.
- Zelensky insists Ukraine keeps its territory.
- Ukraine demands inclusion in peace negotiations.
The United States is alleged to have requested the talks.
Lammy stated that the
"UK's support for Ukraine remains ironclad as we continue working towards a just and lasting peace"
as the two were joined by Ukrainian officials and European national security specialists.
Ahead of next week's summit between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump in Alaska, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky emphasized that he will not cede any territory to Russia.
Vance and his family are staying at Chevening, Lammy's official country home in Kent, where the meeting was conducted on Saturday.
Along with representatives from the UK, US, EU, France, Germany, Italy, Finland, and NATO, the discussions were attended by Andriy Yermak, the head of Zelensky's office, and Rustem Umerov, secretary of Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council.
Prior to the conference, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky over the phone, and the two men agreed that it would be a "vital forum" to discuss peace prospects.
On August 15, Trump and Putin will meet to talk about the war's future.
Trump hinted that Ukraine could have to give up land in order to put an end to the conflict, which started when Russia launched a full-scale invasion in February 2022.
Trump stated on Friday that there "will be some swapping of territories, to the betterment of both" in reference to a possible agreement to end the war.
"You're looking at territory that's been fought over for three and a half years, a lot of Russians have died. A lot of Ukrainians have died,"
the US president said.
Russia has consistently insisted on Ukraine recognising Russian sovereignty over several Ukrainian regions, agreeing to demilitarisation and abandoning its Nato aspirations.
Trump's position has also consistently involved Ukraine sacrificing land for peace.
While Zelensky has been careful not to criticise Trump, his post on social media makes clear that he will not accept it.
Early on Saturday, he said in a Telegram post "Ukrainians will not give their land to the occupier", and reiterated that Ukraine must be involved in any solution for peace.
"We are ready, together with President Trump, together with all partners, to work for a real, and most importantly, lasting peace - a peace that will not collapse because of Moscow's wishes."
How are Vance and Lammy working together to shape Ukraine peace talks?
US Vice President JD Vance and UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy are working together by hosting a high-level, urgent meeting near London that brings together senior national security advisers from the US, UK, Europe, and Ukraine to coordinate positions and discuss a ceasefire and peace framework ahead of the planned US-Russia summit on August 15, 2025.
This meeting provides a vital forum to ensure Ukraine's interests and involvement are central to any negotiations aimed at ending the war, emphasizing that peace solutions excluding Ukraine would be untenable according to Ukrainian President Zelensky.
Despite their differing political backgrounds, Vance and Lammy have formed a working relationship and friendship that enables them to collaborate closely on these complex diplomatic efforts.