An injured man wrapped in a survival blanket walks through the rubble following strikes in Kharkiv, in northeast Ukraine, on Friday, as the Russian invasion continues. (Getty Images)
U.S. President Donald Trump has hinted at pulling back from peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine. Speaking to reporters on Friday, Trump said the U.S. would “take a pass” on mediation if either side became too difficult to work with.
He clarified he wasn’t fully abandoning the idea of peace talks. “It’s coming to a head right now,” Trump stated, expressing hope for a possible breakthrough.
Clock Ticking on Peace Efforts
Trump’s comments follow a stern warning from Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Speaking in Paris, Rubio said the U.S. would not keep trying indefinitely. “We need to determine very quickly—within days—if this is even doable in the coming weeks,” he said.
Rubio emphasized the president’s urgency. “He’s put a lot of time and energy into this,” Rubio said. “But we have other pressing matters that also need attention.”
Talks with Ukraine Show Signs of Movement
Despite growing impatience, there are glimpses of progress. Trump revealed on Thursday that he expects to finalize a deal with Ukraine next week. The proposed agreement would allow the U.S. access to Ukraine’s valuable mineral resources.
A similar deal collapsed in February after tensions flared between Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
High-Level Meetings in Paris Offer Hope
Thursday’s Paris talks marked a turning point. It was the first in-person, high-level discussion involving the U.S., Ukraine, and European leaders. Rubio described the reception of the U.S. peace plan as “encouraging.” Zelenskyy’s office echoed that sentiment, calling the talks “constructive and positive.”
Russian Diplomacy Still in the Picture
After the Paris meeting, Rubio spoke with Russian Foreign Affairs Minister Sergei Lavrov. He briefed Lavrov on parts of the U.S. peace proposal and mentioned that security guarantees had come up during the talks.
Rubio admitted that finalizing a deal would be tough. Still, he believed some compromises could be reached. “We can fix the security guarantee issue in a way that works for all sides,” he said. But he also stressed that larger challenges remain unresolved.
Peace in Sight or a Fading Promise?
Trump once promised to end the war within 24 hours of taking office. Later, he adjusted that goal, suggesting peace could come by April or May. But the reality has proven far more complex.
Rubio summed up the current stance. “No one’s saying this can happen overnight,” he noted. “But we need to see if the sides are even close enough to make progress in the time we have.”
As the deadline looms, it remains unclear whether diplomatic efforts will succeed—or be shelved entirely.
