UK, France, Germany see London talks on Ukraine as productive - statement

LONDON/WASHINGTON. April 24 (Interfax) - The latest round of negotiations between UK, French, German and U.S. representatives with a Ukrainian delegation in London was productive, the three European states said in a joint statement.

"The talks today were productive and successful, and significant progress was made on reaching a common position on next steps," the statement, published on the website of the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, said.

"All agreed to continue their close coordination and looked forward to further talks soon," the statement said. "All parties reiterated their strong support for [U.S.] President [Donald] Trump's commitment to [...] achieving a just and lasting peace," it said.

"Positive talks in London with [head of the Office of the Ukrainian President] Andrei Yermak," Trump's Special Envoy for Ukraine Keith Kellogg, who represented the U.S. at the talks, said on social media. "It's time to move forward," Kellogg+ said.

According to media reports, the level of the London meeting was downgraded after U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that he would not be attending.

The CNN television channel said, citing its sources, that Rubio did not go to London as "the [U.S.] administration did not feel that they were at a decisive point in the ongoing talks."

Trump said on Wednesday that Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky's statement that Ukraine will not recognize Crimea as part of Russia, which is among the points of the U.S.-proposed settlement plan, "is very harmful to the peace negotiations with Russia."