US to abandon Russia-Ukraine peace effort unless deal becomes feasible soon, official says

The United States will abandon its efforts to broker a peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine within days unless there are immediate and tangible signs of progress, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned on April 18.

Speaking to reporters in Paris following high-level meetings with European and Ukrainian leaders, Rubio signaled a growing impatience within the Trump administration over the lack of breakthroughs in the ongoing ceasefire negotiations, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

"We're not going to continue with this endeavour for weeks and months on end. So we need to determine very quickly now, and I'm talking about a matter of days whether or not this is doable in the next few weeks. If it is we're in. If it's not, then we have other priorities to focus on as well," Rubio said.

His comments underscore Washington’s mounting frustration amid sluggish diplomatic progress, despite a renewed push for a full ceasefire in Ukraine. President Donald Trump has made resolving the war a foreign policy priority, though his timeline has shifted significantly since the campaign trail, when he pledged to end the conflict within 24 hours of taking office. More recently, he had indicated hopes for a resolution by April or May, though that ambition now appears increasingly uncertain.

Rubio emphasized that while President Trump remains committed to pursuing a peace deal, the administration will not allow the process to drag on indefinitely without results. "Trump was still interested in a deal but was willing to move on if there were no immediate signs of progress," Rubio said.

In a separate statement to reporters before departing Paris, Rubio expressed optimism that key European allies could help accelerate the talks. "I think the UK, France and Germany can help us move this issue forward and bring it closer to resolution," he stated. "I believe their ideas and intentions are very constructive."

The meetings in Paris mark the latest in a series of diplomatic engagements aimed at ending the three-year conflict sparked by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. However, with tensions rising and civilian casualties continuing despite a partial truce, the window for a breakthrough appears to be narrowing rapidly.

By Vafa Guliyeva