U.S. Ukraine: We retreat from peace efforts if there is no rapid progress

“Fast, we want to finish it,” Trump told reporters at the White House. He added that if one of the parties becomes too difficult to co-operate, the US will withdraw and declare: “you are fools, you are bad people”. Trump hopes this situation will not happen.

Trump's statements come after the comments by Rubio, the senior US diplomat, who stressed that the parties have only a few days to make progress.

We will not continue with this effort for weeks or months. We need to understand it very quickly now, and I'm talking about issues of days, if this is feasible within the coming weeks,” said Rubio in Paris after meetings with European and Ukrainian leaders.

If that's not possible, if we're as far away as there's hope for a deal, then I think the president will say, "Well, we're done, " he added.

Trump refused to set a precise deadline as long as he is willing to wait. Marco is right when he says... we want to see the end of this,” said Trump. Asked whether Russian President Vladimir Putin is dragging the process, Trump responded: “I hope not.”

In recent weeks, American officials have acknowledged privately that the chances of a swift peace deal in Ukraine have become smaller and smaller. Ruby's statements reflect the growing frustration in the White House due to Russian non-co-operation to end the war.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said there has been some progress on a peace deal, but that contacts with Washington are difficult. He stressed that Russia is trying to resolve the conflict while at the same time guaranteeing its interests and remains open to dialogue with the United States.

US Vice President JD Vance, who was speaking in Rome after a meeting with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Melon, expressed optimism that the US could help end this <x0-second bloody battle”.

An American official announced that the parties will meet again in London next week to give Ukraine time to fully comply with a “terms agreement” presented by Washington. According to this official, Ukraine is ready for a nationwide truce, air, and sea for at least 30 days or more.

Trump, during the election campaign, had promised to finish the war in Ukraine within the first 24 hours of the White House. After taking office, he softened that statement, suggesting an agreement until April or May, due to numerous obstacles.

It has exerted pressure on both sides to sit at the negotiating table, threatening more severe sanctions on Russia or cutting off billions of dollars in military aid to Kiev.

Reuters writes that if Washington withdraws, peace mediation efforts are likely to fail, as no other country has the power to exert equal pressure on Moscow and Kiev.

Trump also said he expects to sign a mineral agreement with Kiev next week, as efforts in February failed following a Zelensky crash in the Oval Office with Vance and the republican president.

Rubio said he had communicated with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov after talks in Paris and had informed him of the elements of the US peace framework.

Putin has stressed that he wants Ukraine to give up its NATO membership ambitions, permanently hand over the four regions it has lost and limit its military size. Kiev has rejected these demands, saying they are equivalent to the surrender.

Rubio also stressed that Europeans have an important role in any peace agreement, as their sanctions against Russia will probably have to be lifted to reach an agreement.

He added that the US security guarantees issue had been raised during talks in Paris, stressing that this is an issue that can be resolved in an acceptable manner for all. But he warned that “we have the biggest challenges we need to solve”. /Periscope