The United States could withdraw from efforts to negotiate a ceasefire in the Ukraine conflict within days if there’s no sign of meaningful progress, according to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Speaking after a high-level diplomatic meeting in Paris, Rubio emphasized that President Donald Trump remains interested in brokering peace but won’t allow the process to drag on indefinitely.
“We’re not going to pursue this for weeks or months if it’s going nowhere. We’ll know in a matter of days if this path is viable. If it is, we move forward. If not, we focus on other priorities,” Rubio said.
President Trump, who during his campaign claimed he could end the war in a day, had since toned down that promise and pushed for a possible peace agreement by spring. However, progress has been slow.
The Paris talks brought together US, European, and Ukrainian leaders, including France’s Emmanuel Macron, UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy, and representatives from Germany and Ukraine. France described the meeting as the beginning of a “positive process.”
Rubio also reached out to Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov to share the outcomes of the Paris meeting. According to the US State Department, Rubio reaffirmed the US’s commitment to a “durable and lasting peace.”
Lavrov, in turn, signaled Moscow’s willingness to continue talks, stating the importance of addressing the deeper roots of the Ukraine crisis. Both sides agreed to keep communication lines open, especially ahead of another round of talks set for next week in London.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky welcomed the diplomatic efforts. His chief of staff publicly thanked Macron for helping push forward discussions on a lasting peace in Europe.
However, the Kremlin dismissed the Paris discussions, accusing European leaders of focusing on prolonging the conflict. Despite this, French officials hailed the involvement of both the US and European powers as a significant step toward a unified approach.
“A just and sustainable peace can only happen with Europe at the table,” French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot stated.
