Media: US signals possible shift in diplomacy as Trump grows impatient with Ukraine peace talks

In recent days, US President Donald Trump and his administration have expressed growing frustrations with the lack of progress in the Russia-Ukraine peace talks, with Trump privately venting his anger over the stalled negotiations.

After initially promising a deal within 24 hours of taking office, Trump’s patience appears to have run out. Speaking publicly on April 18, he signaled that he might soon walk away from the diplomatic effort if no breakthrough is reached, Caliber.Az reports citing foreign media.

“We’re just going to say, ‘You’re foolish, you’re fools, you’re horrible people,’ and we’re going to just take a pass,” Trump declared, signaling a tough stance toward both Russia and Ukraine if they continue to block a peace deal. He did not set a firm deadline for his decision, leaving open the possibility of further action beyond simply disengaging.

Trump’s frustration had been clear earlier in private conversations with top advisors, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio and diplomatic envoy Steve Witkoff. In an impromptu discussion about the ceasefire efforts, Trump raised the possibility that he might shift focus to other foreign policy issues if a deal wasn’t reached soon. According to a US official briefed on the matter, Trump made it clear that his patience was running thin.

Rubio emphasized that Trump has already committed significant time and energy to the issue but is now questioning whether it’s worth continuing. “We need to figure out... within a matter of days, whether this is doable in the short term. If it’s not, then I think we’re just going to move on,” Rubio said.

Later, Rubio spoke with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, reiterating the message that the US would step back from peace efforts if no clear path to a deal emerges. State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce confirmed that Rubio had expressed the same sentiment to European and Ukrainian officials during meetings in Paris, adding that Trump’s frustration was palpable.

A European diplomat who was in the meeting in Paris said Rubio shared Trump’s concerns, noting that the US was under pressure to see swift progress. However, the diplomat emphasized that Rubio did not call for increased pressure on Russia during the talks.

Despite Ukraine agreeing to Trump’s 30-day ceasefire proposal, Russia has been slow to accept the terms, asserting that its forces are gaining on the battlefield and demanding conditions for peace. This delay has made it unlikely that the Kremlin would be particularly concerned by Trump stepping away from the negotiations.

Meanwhile, Rubio and Witkoff presented a potential framework for a peace deal during the Paris meetings. Rubio now awaits responses from both Kyiv and Moscow before taking further steps in the diplomatic process.

By Vafa Guliyeva