President Donald Trump has dropped a diplomatic bombshell — saying the United States may walk away from Ukraine-Russia peace talks in a matter of days if both Kyiv and Moscow don’t start showing serious progress.
The warning reflects a sudden shift in US messaging, echoing earlier remarks by Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Paris, where he said the US would “move on” if peace wasn’t “doable.”
“No specific number of days, but quickly. We want to get it done,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office.
No Blame Game, But Time Is Running Out
Trump avoided blaming either Russian President Vladimir Putin or Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky but made it clear that both sides need to take responsibility.
“If for some reason one of the two parties makes it very difficult, we’re just going to say: ‘You’re foolish… and we’re going to just take a pass,’” Trump stated.
This comes despite multiple failed attempts to secure a truce, including Trump’s earlier phone call with Putin and repeated behind-the-scenes discussions.
Ongoing Violence and Broken Commitments
Meanwhile, Russia continues its assault, with deadly strikes reported in Ukraine’s Kharkiv and Sumy regions. A temporary pause on attacking energy infrastructure — one of the few promises made by Russia — has now “expired,” according to Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov.
Ukraine reported receiving 909 fallen soldiers’ bodies from Russia recently. President Zelensky condemned the attacks as a cruel mockery during the Easter season.
“Ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, drones — a mockery of our people and cities,” Zelensky posted on Telegram.
A Divided US Administration?
Despite the tough rhetoric from Trump and Rubio, Vice President JD Vance offered a contrasting tone during his trip to Italy, saying he remains “optimistic” about ending the war.
Still, tensions remain within the Trump administration, especially following a fiery February clash between Trump and Zelensky inside the Oval Office.
Allies Watching Closely
As the US grows frustrated, European nations are pushing for a stronger role in peace talks. France hosted a key meeting between European leaders and US officials, including French President Emmanuel Macron and envoy Steve Witkoff.
However, concerns have been raised about Witkoff — who recently met with Putin — for allegedly echoing Russian viewpoints.
Ukraine is expected to sign a major deal next week granting US access to its valuable mineral resources, further intertwining geopolitical interests with business.
