Marco Rubio, the U.S. Secretary of State, will not be present at upcoming discussions in London focused on resolving the war in Ukraine. The announcement came from State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce on Tuesday, reversing earlier indications that Rubio would attend.

Despite his absence, the talks are still scheduled to take place, with President Donald Trump’s envoy to Ukraine, General Keith Kellogg, stepping in to participate. It’s not clear whether Rubio’s decision to skip the event signals a shift in Washington’s approach, especially after Trump expressed optimism on Sunday that Russia and Ukraine could reach an agreement this week to end the conflict.

“At this time, while the London meetings are still moving forward, Secretary Rubio will not be attending,” Bruce said during a routine press briefing. “That decision reflects logistical challenges in his schedule, not a stance on the importance of the talks.”

Bruce had earlier appeared on a television interview suggesting that she and Rubio were headed to London, calling the venue a promising opportunity for diplomatic progress.

This development comes amid growing frustration within the U.S. over the pace of negotiations, with officials warning that American involvement could be reconsidered if tangible progress isn’t made soon.

Since taking office in January, Trump has taken a different approach to foreign policy, urging Ukraine to accept a ceasefire while scaling back measures previously imposed on Russia following its full-scale invasion in 2022.

Trump has repeatedly emphasized his desire to broker a truce by May, arguing that the U.S. must end a war that has claimed tens of thousands of lives and threatens to escalate into a direct clash with nuclear-armed Russia. European leaders have voiced increasing concern about Washington’s warmer stance toward Moscow, especially given the lack of results from current ceasefire efforts.