President Donald Trump has announced that the United States may step back from efforts to broker peace between Russia and Ukraine if progress is not made soon. He expressed frustration with the ongoing negotiations and made it clear that patience is wearing thin.
“If one of the two parties makes it very difficult, 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 said during a media briefing. While he didn’t set a deadline, he hinted that U.S. involvement would not continue indefinitely without results.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio backed the president’s stance, suggesting that the U.S. might withdraw from the peace process within days if no meaningful progress is seen. He said talks had been ongoing, but the lack of movement was troubling.
The U.S. recently proposed a 30-day ceasefire agreement, which Ukraine accepted. However, Russia rejected the deal and continued its attacks, including recent strikes on Ukrainian cities like Sumy and Kharkiv, which led to civilian deaths and renewed tension.
At the same time, Ukraine signed a memorandum with the U.S. to launch a joint reconstruction investment fund aimed at rebuilding war-torn infrastructure. Still, tensions remain over the U.S. demand that Ukraine repay previous military assistance—something Ukrainian officials argue was intended as aid, not a loan.
Trump’s comments and his administration’s approach have stirred criticism. Some observers say the U.S. appears to be easing its stance on Russia, raising concerns about shifting foreign policy priorities.
With global attention focused on the talks, the outcome will likely shape future diplomatic efforts and could significantly impact international relations and regional stability.
