The clock is ticking on the U.S.-led peace initiative between Russia and Ukraine, as U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio revealed on Friday that President Donald Trump is prepared to walk away from the negotiation table if tangible progress isn’t made within days.
Speaking in Paris after meeting with European and Ukrainian officials, Rubio made it clear that the United States is no longer willing to invest endless time into a peace process that isn’t delivering results.
“We’re not going to continue with this endeavor for weeks and months on end,” Rubio stated. “We need to determine very quickly—within a matter of days—whether this is doable in the next few weeks.”
This stark message comes amid subtle signs of progress. Trump recently said he expects to finalize a deal with Kyiv next week, which would grant the United States access to Ukraine’s mineral resources. However, a previous attempt to seal a similar minerals agreement in February collapsed after a tense Oval Office exchange between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and top U.S. officials.
The recent Paris discussions marked the first high-level, in-person negotiations involving European powers since Trump took office. According to Rubio, the proposed U.S. peace framework received a “positive and encouraging reception.” Meanwhile, Zelenskiy’s office described the talks as “constructive,” offering hope that a path forward may still exist.
Despite these developments, Rubio’s comments reflect growing impatience within the White House. Trump campaigned on a bold promise to end the Ukraine conflict within 24 hours of taking office. Since then, that timeline has been adjusted, with Trump suggesting April or May as realistic windows for a deal.
Adding to the diplomatic mix, Rubio shared that he had spoken with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov following the Paris meetings. He updated Lavrov on the U.S. framework and said the conversation was constructive. One key point raised during the Paris talks was the issue of U.S. security guarantees as part of any future agreement. Rubio did not provide specifics but expressed optimism that it could be resolved in a way that satisfies all parties.
However, he also acknowledged the complexity of the situation.
“This is not something that will be resolved in 12 hours,” he said. “But we need to see if the gaps can be bridged and if meaningful movement is possible in the limited timeframe we have.”
As of now, both the French presidency and foreign ministry have not commented on the outcome of the meetings.
The coming days will be crucial. If negotiations stall, the U.S. may pull back, leaving the future of peace in the region even more uncertain.
