US President Donald Trump will leave efforts to mediate the Russian-Ukraine peace agreement within days, unless there is a clear indication that he can make the deal, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Friday.
“We are not going to continue this effort for weeks and months. So we need to make a prompt decision right now. I’m talking about the issue for days, whether this is viable or not in the coming weeks,” Rubio said in Paris after meeting European and Ukrainian leaders.
“If that’s not possible, if we’re far enough apart that this doesn’t happen, I think the president will probably be at the point where he says, ‘Well, we’re done.’ ”
Three European diplomatic sources told Reuters Rubio’s comments. This coincides with signs of progress in US consultations with Ukraine, and reflects the increasing dissatisfaction of the White House to end the war against Russia’s incommunity.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that while progress in peace has already been made, contact with Washington would be difficult. He said Russia is striving to resolve the conflict while securing its profits. Moscow remains open to dialogue with the US, he added.
Trump predicted on Thursday that he would sign a minerals contract with Kiev next week after the February attempt fell apart after Ukrainian President Voldymi Zelensky’s oval office clashed with JD Vance and Vice President Trump.
Vance spoke in Rome when he met Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and said he was optimistic that he could help him end this “very brutal war.”
The talks in Paris on Thursday were face-to-face consultations at the first substantial high level of Trump’s promotion of peace, including European powers. Rubio said the American framework of peace he presented received a “reception of encouragement.” Zelenskiy’s office called The Talks constructive and positive.