Talks between the U.S., Ukraine and European officials to discuss ending Russia's war in Ukraine faltered as Secretary of State Marco Rubio abruptly cancelled his trip to London.

A major meeting in London aimed at bringing about an end to Russia’s war in Ukraine has been downgraded after US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said he would skip the summit, escalating a clash between Washington and Kyiv over the future of Russian-occupied Crimea.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s last-minute decision to cancel means there will be no foreign ministers meeting in London for Ukraine peace talks, but presidential envoy Steve Witkoff will still go to Moscow.

Nine people have been killed after a Russian drone hit a bus transporting workers in Ukraine. The attack occurred on Wednesday morning in the south-central city of Marhanets. Serhiy Lysak, regional chief of Dnipropetrovsk, said at least 30 people were injured, adding that "the number of victims is constantly growing".

Ukraine says its air force hit a Russian drone hub, killing operators. The site was used to launch reconnaissance, strike, and FPV drones, it said.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has offered to halt his invasion of Ukraine across the current front line as part of efforts to reach a peace deal with U.S. President Donald Trump, the Financial Times reported on Tuesday citing people familiar with the matter.

President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Tuesday Ukraine was ready for talks with Russia "in any format" once a ceasefire is set, while the Financial Times reported President Vladimir Putin had offered to halt Russia's invasion at the current front lines.

Russian President Vladimir Putin is considering a halt to his ongoing invasion of Ukraine as the U.S. is prepared to recognize Russia's prior annexation of Crimea as part of a peace deal. A potential deal would also include U.