United States President Donald Trump has signaled that the US may step away from its ongoing efforts to broker a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine if the negotiations become too challenging.
Speaking on Friday (local time), Trump told reporters, “If, for some reason, one of the two parties makes it very difficult, we’re just going to say, ‘You’re foolish, you’re foolish. You’re horrible people,’ and we’re just going to take a pass.”
His comments, reported by CNN, underscore growing frustration within the Trump administration as peace efforts drag on with little resolution.
Despite the stern warning, Trump remained cautiously optimistic, adding, “I think we have a really good chance of getting it done. It’s coming to a head right now.”
Rubio: Peace Talks Must Show Progress in “Days”
Trump’s remarks came shortly after US Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasized that the US must decide soon whether further peace negotiations are even worth continuing. Speaking from Paris, where he met with European, Ukrainian, and Russian officials, Rubio said the situation is reaching a tipping point.
“We need to determine very quickly now, and I’m talking about a matter of days, whether or not this is doable,” Rubio told reporters.
Rubio, along with special envoy Steve Witkoff, has been meeting with allies in a last-ditch effort to assess the chances of ending the war.
“If it’s not possible, if we’re so far apart that this is not going to happen, then I think the president is probably at a point where he’s going to say we’re done. It’s not our war. We didn’t start it,” he added.
“We’ve Done Our Part,” Says Rubio
Rubio further defended the administration’s efforts, noting that the United States has spent the past three years supporting Ukraine and pushing for a peaceful resolution.
“President Trump has spent 87 days at the highest level of this government, repeatedly making efforts to bring this war to an end,” Rubio said. “We are now reaching a point where we need to decide and determine whether this is even possible or not. Which is why we’re engaging both sides.”
What’s Next?
While both Trump and Rubio stress the urgency, the fate of the Ukraine-Russia peace talks remains uncertain. With the US hinting at stepping away, pressure now mounts on all parties to either make meaningful progress or face a potential collapse of the negotiations.
As the situation develops, the global community watches closely — because if the US “takes a pass,” the future of peace in Ukraine could hang in the balance.
