US to abandon Ukraine peace efforts without progress, Trump

U.S. President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio have stated that the United States will abandon efforts to broker a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine unless significant progress is made in the coming days.

Speaking from the White House, Trump made it clear that time is running out, saying, "Quickly, we want to get it done... if one of the two parties makes it very difficult, we’re just going to say, ‘you’re foolish,’ and walk away." He emphasized that the U.S. is committed to peace but will not engage indefinitely without signs of meaningful progress.

Rubio, speaking in Paris after meeting European and Ukrainian leaders, echoed Trump’s sentiment, noting that the sides have only days to demonstrate that peace talks can lead to a resolution. “We need to determine very quickly now, and I’m talking about a matter of days, whether or not this is doable in the next few weeks,” he said. “If it’s not possible, then we’re done.”

Despite frustration within the U.S. administration over the lack of progress, particularly on the part of Russia, Rubio’s comments came after high-level discussions in Paris where the U.S. peace framework received an "encouraging reception" from European officials. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s office called the talks constructive, though tensions remain over specific demands from Moscow.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed some progress on peace talks but indicated that negotiations with Washington were difficult. Meanwhile, U.S. officials expressed concern over remarks by Zelenskiy accusing Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, of "spreading Russian narratives," which they believe hindered the peace process.

With the clock ticking, the U.S. is preparing to re-engage with Ukraine next week in London to finalize a ceasefire agreement and gauge Kyiv’s readiness for a broader peace accord. Despite the ongoing conflict, both the U.S. and European officials remain hopeful, yet wary, of achieving a lasting peace agreement.

In the backdrop of these discussions, President Trump has also signaled a potential shift in U.S. support for Ukraine, including possibly scaling back military aid or halting payments. The future of U.S. policy, especially in regard to sanctions and security guarantees, remains uncertain.

The continued pressure on both Moscow and Kyiv highlights the delicate balancing act Washington faces in attempting to broker peace while also safeguarding its strategic interests in the region.

Copied