US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said President Donald Trump is willing to “move on” from peace talks between Ukraine and Russia if there is no progress within days. The comments came after a 24-hour trip to Paris where French President Emmanuel Macron convened American, Ukrainian, and European officials in an effort to re-center the negotiations.
Rubio warned that if efforts to stop fighting are abandoned, it could be a win for Russia, which currently has momentum on the battlefield. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov responded by citing progress made in the 30-day energy ceasefire, which he claimed had expired.
However, Rubio said the US is willing to engage both sides and is open to sanctions on Russia if a lasting settlement cannot be reached. The top US diplomat also acknowledged that European leaders are wary of US moves toward warmer ties with Russia and warned against concessions emboldening the Kremlin if nothing is secured in return.
Trump told reporters that he wants to sign a deal with Ukraine to grant the US access to its critical mineral resources, but expressed skepticism about Zelensky’s leadership. “We want to get it done,” Trump said of efforts to secure a ceasefire.
The US vision for a deal involves keeping Kyiv’s ambitions for NATO membership off the negotiating table and holding out the prospect of easing sanctions on Russia if there is a lasting settlement. Trump appeared ready to use both incentives and pressure on Russia, but warned that if one side makes it “very difficult,” the US will take a pass.
As peace negotiations continue, tensions between Russia and European leaders remain high, with Moscow rejecting French-British plans for a postwar Ukraine deterrence force. The Kremlin has also blocked previous US-facilitated deals unless sanctions are lifted, which European leaders have opposed.
Source: https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/04/18/rubio-trump-ukraine-peace-talks-russia