U.S. President Donald Trump warned that Washington could pull out of efforts to broker peace between Russia and Ukraine if no progress is seen in the coming days. Trump, speaking at the White House, said both sides must act fast or risk losing U.S. support. "We want to get it done quickly," he said. "If one side makes it too difficult, we’ll just walk away."
Secretary of State Marco Rubio echoed the urgency, saying talks must show results within days. Following meetings in Paris with European and Ukrainian leaders, Rubio stated, "If it’s not doable soon, we’re done."
Tensions are mounting as Trump faces pressure to fulfill his campaign promise to end the war. His administration is reportedly frustrated with both Russia’s reluctance and Ukraine’s criticism of Trump’s envoy, Steve Witkoff, whom Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy accused of promoting Russian narratives.
While a recent meeting in Paris received a “constructive” response from Kyiv, and another round of talks is set for London, U.S. officials fear time is running out. A temporary ceasefire deal is reportedly on the table, offering a 30-day pause across land, sea, and air.
Russia insists on Ukraine dropping NATO ambitions and ceding occupied regions, demands Ukraine rejects. Despite that, Bloomberg reported that Washington might be open to recognizing Russia’s control of Crimea as part of a broader peace deal.
Vice President JD Vance expressed optimism in Rome, while Trump hinted at a possible U.S.-Ukraine minerals deal next week. However, insiders warn that failure to reach a breakthrough could see the U.S. halt military aid to Kyiv, shifting global peace efforts and placing more weight on Europe to negotiate a settlement.